Written answer by Ministry of National Development on implementing distinct quantitative noise thresholds for evening period in residential areas

Oct 16, 2024

Question No: 6225

Question by: Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim

To ask the Minister for National Development as part of the review of recommendations made by the Community Advisory Panel on Neighbourhood Noise, whether the Ministry can consider implementing distinct quantitative noise thresholds for the evening period between 7 pm and 10 pm, with these limits being lower than daytime thresholds but higher than those set for quiet hours.

Answer:

The Ministry of National Development has accepted most of the six recommendations by the Community Advisory Panel (CAP) on Neighbourhood Noise. These include: setting norms on considerate behaviours to manage neighbourhood noise, designating an agency empowered to enforce against unacceptable neighbour noise, and reviewing the mediation process to better manage community disputes over neighbourhood noise. 

On CAP’s recommendation to adopt a quantitative noise threshold to assess egregious cases of neighbourhood noise, the Ministry has no plans to set such thresholds during the quiet hours (from 10.30 pm to 7 am), or during the period (from 7 pm to 10 pm) suggested by the Member.  This is following consultations with external experts, who shared that there could be operational challenges in setting absolute, across-the-board noise thresholds, as residents would respond to noise differently and have subjective perceptions of severe noise disturbances of varying duration.  Neighbourhoods could also have different perceptions of acceptable ambient noise levels, depending on location.