What's the Legal Noise Limit in a Latvian Apartment Building?

If you live in an apartment building in Latvia, you may have wondered: How loud is too loud? Whether the noise comes from a neighbour, ventilation system, lift, restaurant, road or other source, Latvian regulations set different limits depending on where the noise is measured and what type of noise is involved.

The important point is that there is no single legal number that applies to every noise complaint. Latvian regulations distinguish between noise inside residential rooms, environmental noise around buildings and the sound insulation performance of the building itself.

The basic indoor noise limits

Under Latvia's Cabinet Regulation No. 16, Procedures for the Assessment and Management of Noise, the limit for living rooms and bedrooms is:

These are expressed as LAeq,T, meaning an A-weighted equivalent continuous sound level over the relevant assessment period.

There is also a separate night-time LAmax requirement for residential rooms. The regulation specifies that the permitted maximum level at night is 20 dB(A) higher than the applicable night-time LAeq,T limit. For a residential room with a 30 dB(A) night-time LAeq,T limit, this corresponds to 50 dB(A) LAmax.

What does 30–35 dB(A) actually mean?

For context, 30 dB(A) is a relatively quiet indoor environment. A quiet bedroom or library can be around this range, although actual background levels vary considerably.

It is also important not to judge a potential violation simply by looking at the number displayed by a consumer sound-level app. Legal noise assessment requires appropriate measurement methods and equipment, and Latvian regulations specify that noise measurements are carried out by laboratories accredited by the national accreditation institution or by an appropriately accredited laboratory in another EU Member State.

Does this mean my neighbour cannot make more than 30 dB?

Not necessarily.

This is one of the most common misunderstandings about noise regulations.

The 30 dB(A) night-time limit applies to the assessed noise level in the relevant residential room, under the conditions specified by the regulation. It does not mean that a neighbour is prohibited from producing any sound above 30 dB at the source.

The measurement location, type of noise, duration, time of day and source all matter.

For example, footsteps from the apartment above are different from music played through a sound system. A ventilation unit, lift or commercial premises may also require a different assessment from ordinary neighbour activity.

What about noise coming through the walls or floor?

This is where building acoustics becomes important.

Latvia's construction standard LBN 016-15 "Būvakustika" establishes sound-insulation requirements for multi-apartment residential buildings. For the standard Class C requirements, the following values apply between residential rooms of apartments:

• R'w ≥ 55 dB for airborne sound insulation
• L'n,w ≤ 52 dB for impact sound

The same 55 dB / 52 dB requirements also apply between residential rooms and common-use rooms, and between residential rooms and sanitary or utility rooms of an adjacent apartment.

These numbers are not noise limits.

They measure something different:

R'w describes how effectively a building element reduces airborne sound transmission.

L'n,w describes the level of impact sound transmitted through a building structure, such as footsteps or objects hitting a floor.

So if you can clearly hear conversations through a neighbouring wall, or footsteps from the apartment above, the relevant question may be whether the building's sound insulation meets the applicable requirements, rather than simply whether your neighbour is exceeding a 30 dB noise limit.

What about traffic, businesses and other outdoor noise?

Environmental noise has a different set of limits.

For multi-storey residential areas, Latvia's environmental-noise limits are:

These values apply to the relevant environmental-noise assessment of multi-storey residential development areas.

For comparison, the limits for individual, low-rise or detached residential development areas are 55 dB(A) during the day, 50 dB(A) in the evening and 45 dB(A) at night.

Traffic noise is regulated separately, with limits of 65 dB(A) during the day, 60 dB(A) in the evening and 55 dB(A) at night under the relevant environmental-noise provisions.

This is why saying simply "the legal noise limit in Latvia is 30 dB" would be misleading. The applicable limit depends on the type and location of the noise.

What if the noise comes from a ventilation system, lift or other equipment?

Noise from building equipment can be assessed under the indoor noise requirements.

Latvia's regulations specifically address noise from equipment such as ventilation systems, refrigeration equipment, compressors and lifts. The Health Inspectorate can control compliance with noise limits for economic activities and equipment, while municipalities have responsibilities concerning music and certain public-order-related noise.

This can be particularly relevant in apartment buildings where residents experience:

• ventilation noise
• heat-pump noise
• lift noise
• refrigeration equipment
• pumps
• compressors
• commercial premises operating within or next to a residential building

In these cases, professional measurements can help establish whether the noise is actually exceeding the applicable limit and identify its characteristics and source.

What about loud music from a neighbour?

Music is more complicated than a simple decibel reading.

The current Latvian regulatory framework contains provisions concerning indoor noise, while certain noise-control responsibilities are divided between national authorities and municipalities. Cabinet Regulation No. 16 also contains exclusions and specific provisions concerning public events, repairs and other activities.

In addition, the Constitutional Court issued a judgment on 14 April 2026 concerning the adequacy of protection against excessive entertainment noise, with relevant parts of Cabinet Regulation No. 16 becoming invalid from 16 April 2026. This makes it particularly important to consider the current legal framework rather than relying on older articles or advice published several years ago.

For a specific dispute involving music, parties or entertainment premises, the applicable municipal rules and the precise circumstances should therefore also be checked.

How is a noise complaint actually investigated?

If you believe noise levels in your apartment are excessive, the first step is to identify what type of noise you are dealing with.

For example:

Noise from outside the building → Environmental noise assessment may be relevant.

Noise from a ventilation system, lift or other equipment → Indoor noise measurements and source investigation may be appropriate.

Footsteps or impact noise from the apartment above → Building-acoustic testing of impact sound insulation may be relevant.

Voices or music transmitted through a wall → Airborne sound insulation testing may help determine whether the building structure provides the required acoustic separation.

Noise from a nearby road, railway or industrial facility → Environmental noise measurements and potentially noise modelling may be appropriate.

The correct measurement method is therefore just as important as the number recorded.

Can a phone app prove that the legal limit has been exceeded?

Usually, a phone can be useful for screening or getting an indication of the sound level, but it should not automatically be treated as evidence of a regulatory exceedance.

Professional noise assessments use calibrated measurement equipment and defined measurement procedures. Latvian regulations specifically require noise measurements under the applicable conditions and recognise measurements performed by appropriately accredited laboratories.

For a formal assessment, it is therefore better to obtain measurements from an appropriately accredited laboratory rather than relying solely on a smartphone application.

What should you do if you believe your apartment is too noisy?

Start by recording:

1. - What is causing the noise
2. - When it occurs
3. - How long it lasts
4. - Whether it happens during the day, evening or night
5. - Whether the noise is airborne or structural/impact noise
6. - Whether other residents are experiencing the same problem

If the problem continues, professional acoustic measurements can establish the actual sound level and help determine which legal or building-acoustic requirements are relevant.

So, what is the legal noise limit in a Latvian apartment?

For residential rooms and bedrooms, the current indoor limits under Cabinet Regulation No. 16 are:

35 dB(A) during the day, 35 dB(A) in the evening and 30 dB(A) at night, measured using the applicable assessment method. The night-time LAmax limit is 50 dB(A).

However, these figures should not be interpreted as a universal limit for every noise source in or around an apartment building.

Environmental noise, building sound insulation, impact noise, equipment noise and entertainment noise are assessed under different provisions and measurement approaches. Latvia's LBN 016-15 also establishes sound-insulation requirements for multi-apartment buildings, including R'w ≥ 55 dB and L'n,w ≤ 52 dB for relevant Class C separating structures.

If you are dealing with persistent noise in an apartment, the most useful question is therefore not simply "How many decibels is allowed?" but:

What type of noise is it, where should it be measured, and which Latvian requirement applies to it?

A professional acoustic assessment can help answer those questions and provide objective measurement data.

Need professional noise measurements in Latvia?

NoiseHunters provides acoustic and noise measurement services throughout Latvia, including residential noise assessments, building acoustics, noise-source investigations and other acoustic measurements.

If you need to establish whether noise in an apartment, residential building or surrounding area complies with the applicable requirements, contact NoiseHunters to discuss the appropriate measurement method.

Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided for general information purposes only and should not be considered legal, regulatory or professional advice. Noise limits, measurement requirements and applicable regulations may vary depending on the project, location and type of noise. Always refer to the latest Latvian legislation and obtain a professional assessment where required.