Ask Officer Michelle – Question #460
Posted by DF1955
I have a neighbor behind my home who has started running some kind of generator in his backyard at night. This machine is approximately 30 feet from my home’s bedroom windows. It is loud enough that it can be heard plainly when windows are closed and it disrupts my family’s sleep. As we have had difficulty in the past with this neighbor (loud music at night) it is not an option to ask him to stop running this machine. Quite frankly, the back and front yards are a disaster and the pit bull rushing the fence when we are in our backyard tends to squash any thought of speaking to him face to face. We called the Police at approximately 10:30 p.m. the first night this started and after 3 calls (the last at approximately 11:30 p.m.) we had the Police come to our home so they could listen from our backyard. They said they would speak to the neighbor and find out what the noise was caused by. The machine continued to run all night long, so I have no idea what was discovered or done. The next night the machine did not run, but the night after that it ran again all night long.
When we received no assistance through the Police we sent an email to the 311 contact with the City of Sacramento. The response? To call the Police. This after we stated that we had tried that avenue.
Are we simply going to have to learn to live with this night time noise? Is that really our only option? Is it unreasonable to expect that loud noise cease after 10 p.m. and not start until after 7 a.m.?
We are frustrated with this situation and wish to solve the problem. I would appreciate any suggestion you might offer.
Thank you.
Dear DF1955,
You gave already taken the proper steps. It sounds like your neighbor may be stealing power or needing to generate their own. If they already have electricity, then they shouldn’t have to run a generator….all night long. I know that during these harder economic times that there are a lot of people who haven’t been paying their bill. It is a requirement to have electricity if there are children in the household. They may be running the generator all night to keep a refrigerator going. Nonetheless, there is the noise ordinance that they are violating. Call the police again. Let the dispatcher know that this is an ongoing problem even after we came out, and that the noise is annoying you and your family. I don’t know what the police did the first time they contacted the resident, but usually, the police give an initial written warning. The second time they are dispatched for the noise complaint, the complainant can be fined.
If your neighbor is renting the residence and has a landlord, call them and let them know what is going on. I know how loud generators are, and you shouldn’t have to live with the noise. Keep me posted.
Officer Michelle
