Panel suggests extending ‘quiet hours’ in Singapore neighborhoods from 10pm-8am to tackle noise disturbances

A panel formed in April 2022 to address neighborhood noise disturbances has proposed several recommendations, including extending “quiet hours” by an additional 1.5 hours.

The Community Advisory Panel (CAP) on Neighborhood Noise submitted its report to the Municipal Services Office (MSO) on Nov. 19, suggesting that quiet hours be extended to 10pm to 8am, compared to the current timeframe of 10:30pm to 7am. During these hours, residents are expected to be considerate toward their neighbors, refraining from activities like drilling and hammering.

The panel engaged nearly 4,400 members of the public through surveys, focus groups, and meetings with stakeholders to compile a set of community norms and recommendations. Their report, available online, emphasizes that while quiet hours are generally accepted, some residents fail to adhere to them.

To promote compliance, the panel recommends educational campaigns and stronger measures for those who repeatedly violate the guidelines. The panel also stressed that times outside quiet hours should not be regarded as “noisy hours” but rather as periods when residents should still exercise consideration.

Other recommendations

The panel encourages informal discussions to resolve disputes as a first step but acknowledges that community norms alone may not suffice for managing noise issues.
They suggest designating a specific agency to oversee neighborhood noise disputes, with the authority to enforce penalties like fines or corrective work orders for recurrent offenders.
The mediation process could also be reviewed, possibly making it mandatory if neighbors refuse to engage in mediation, and simplifying the collection of evidence for noise complaints.
Setting a decibel limit for noise disturbances was another suggestion, allowing agencies to assess cases objectively based on measurable standards.
The panel recognized that implementing these norms may take time and may not provide immediate resolutions to all issues. Still, they hope their proposals will be taken seriously by the government.