INSIZA Rural District Council has introduced by-laws that bar the community from making noise without a council permit.
The ban is stipulated under Statutory Instrument 129 of 2025 identified as Insiza Rural District Council (Noise) By-laws, 2025.
“No person in the council area shall emit noise in excess of the emission standards prescribed in terms of section 79 of the Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:27],” the new law stipulated under the suppression of noise, section 4(1) and (2) read.
“Subject to the provisions of section 6, no person shall — (a) operate or cause or permit to be operated any wireless, loudspeaker, gramophone, record-player, amplifier, musical instrument or similar device so as to disturb or interfere with the rest, peace or tranquillity of any occupier of premises in the neighbourhood or in any public street or in any public place.”
Under section 2(b), residents are prohibited from operating any wireless, loudspeaker, gramophone, record-player, amplifier, musical instrument or similar device without the prior written consent of council; or SI 129 of 2025.
The law also prohibits residents from shouting, yelling or blowing on any wind instrument, ringing a bell, horn, blowing a whistle, playing any musical instrument or beating upon any drum or other instrument.
Council also banned any power-driven grass- or hedge-cutting machine during the day.
The residents are also not allowed to keep any bird or animal which, by reason of continued or repeated crowing, screeching, barking or whining, or other noisy or troublesome habits, causes annoyance, disturbance or inconvenience to neighbours.
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“The council may, for good cause, on the written request of any person, grant whole or partial exemption from the prohibition contained in the above-mentioned subsection and may — attach to any such exemption such conditions as it considers desirable; and withdraw such exemption at any time by notice, in writing,” the by-law read.
“Any person may submit an application for a temporary noise permit for a community event or promotional event.
“The application shall be made in writing to the authorised person and shall contain name and address of the applicant; description of the event; location of the event and description of the source of sound and level of sound for which the temporary noise permit is sought; and SI 129 of 2025.”
