Gardening expert explains how much noise you can legally make in your garden

Many people like to make the most out of their gardens and outdoor spaces, whether that be for parties or do some wood-chopping. But how much noise can you legally make out there, before your neighbour's complaint becomes valid?

It's a reasonable question, and something many homeowners and renters have asked themselves. Recently, one person took to Facebook and asked: "What is considered acceptable noise levels in my garden, as my neighbour has complained to my local council about me cutting logs with an electric chain saw and an electric log splitter?"

Over on Reddit, someone else asked: "I need to do some DIY in my front garden that involves power tools - I typically try do it between lunch and dinner as my neighbour put in a noise complaint but she's still making a song and dance about me making noise. What time is acceptable to make noise and for how long (in your opinion)?"

A gardening expert has finally weighed in on the debate.

Gardening expert Michael Griffiths, who often shares tips and tricks on his @themichaelgriffiths TikTok page, weighed in on this debate, and explained it includes things like "water features, wind chimes or even a barking dog".

Answering the question, he said: "If the noise is deemed as unreasonably interfering with someone's life it can be investigated and if the noise is serious, so not a one off event or a brief disturbance, the council can even serve a noise abatement notice."

The governemnt website backs this up, saying councils have to look at noise complaints about noises that could a a "statutory nuisance". This includes in premises including land like gardens and "certain vessels (for example loud music or barking dogs), vehicles, machinery or equipment.

For it to be counted as a statutory nuisance, it must either:

• Unreasonably and substantially interfere with the use or enjoyment of a home or other premises
• Insure health or be likely to injure health

If the council agree, they but serve an abatement notice. This means the person responsible will need to stop or restrict the noise.

For noises from prmises the abatement notice can be delayed for up to seven days while the council tries to get the person responsible to stop or restrict the noise.

If someone doesn't comply with an abatement notice, they can be prosecuted and fined a lump sum, and get further fines for each day they fail to comply.

In the comment section of the video, people shared their own thoughts. One person wrote: "This is good to know because my neighbours regularly wake me up up when they start gardening at 5.30am, even on a weekend." Another claimed: "I had to take my wind chime down because it was too noisy," while a third wrote: "Men with angle grinders. What are they doing?"