What to do about noise pollution from square dancing? The Civil Code clarifies rights and responsibilities, and provides comprehensive solutions to protect the "right to quiet."

In recent years, square dancing has become a popular form of national fitness, but the noise pollution it causes has also been highly controversial. How to balance the public's cultural and recreational needs with residents' right to rest? The Civil Code of the People's Republic of China and the Law on the Prevention and Control of Noise Pollution, among other laws and regulations, have provided clear guidance. Sichuan Sanyuan Environmental Governance Co., Ltd. combines legal norms with technical practice to provide scientific solutions for community noise control.

I. Legal Red Line: Legal Liability for Noise from Square Dancing

The Civil Code's provisions on neighboring rights

Article 294: Real estate owners shall not dispose of solid waste or discharge harmful substances such as air pollutants, water pollutants, soil pollutants, noise, light radiation, and electromagnetic radiation in violation of national regulations.

Article 1165: Where a person causes damage to the civil rights and interests of another due to fault, he or she shall bear tort liability.

Detailed Standards for the Noise Pollution Prevention and Control Law

Public place management responsibility: Public place managers are responsible for supervising the noise generated by activities within the premises and reasonably stipulating usage time and volume limits.

Decibel limits: According to the "Environmental Noise Quality Standard" (GB3096-2008), the daytime noise limit for residential areas is ≤55 decibels, and the nighttime noise limit is ≤45 decibels.

Legal warning: If the volume of square dancing continues to exceed the limit and mediation is ineffective, affected residents have the right to complain to the public security organs and environmental protection departments, and can file a lawsuit in accordance with the law to demand cessation of the infringement and compensation for losses.

II. Practical Challenges: Three Major Difficulties in Noise Control

Standards are difficult to enforce: Most square dance groups lack decibel monitoring equipment, and subjective judgments can easily lead to disputes.

Vague time definition: Some communities have not clearly defined the time periods for morning and evening exercise, leading to frequent disputes over "reasonable time".

High enforcement costs: Insufficient management personnel make it difficult to achieve 24/7 dynamic supervision.

III. The Three-Dimensional Environmental Governance Solution: Law + Technology + Collaborative Governance

Based on the legal framework and community practice, Sichuan Sanyuan Environment proposed an integrated governance approach of "monitoring-noise reduction-diversion":

1. Intelligent Monitoring: Data-Driven Precision Management

Automatic noise monitoring: Real-time display of decibel values, automatic alarm when exceeding limits, and assistance to the community in setting volume red lines (e.g., morning exercise ≤ 60 decibels, evening exercise ≤ 50 decibels).

2. Targeted Noise Cancellation: Technology Balances Multiple Needs

Directional sound transmission technology: Directional speakers concentrate sound waves onto the dance area, reducing the spread of ambient noise (10-15 decibels of ambient noise reduction).

Case Study: Through comprehensive measures, noise complaints at Chaoyin Waterfront in Wuhou District, Chengdu, decreased by 95% year-on-year, the satisfaction rate in follow-up visits reached 96%, the police dispatch rate decreased by 90% year-on-year, and the comprehensive law enforcement cost decreased by 80%. This approach achieves comprehensive governance at a low cost and can form a set of replicable, scalable, and referable experiences and practices to promote the comprehensive management of noise pollution in other areas of the district and continuously open a new chapter in noise pollution control.

3. Spatial planning and co-governance through conventions

The "three restrictions" principle: restricted time periods (e.g., 7:00-9:00, 19:00-21:00), restricted areas (50 meters away from residential buildings), and restricted equipment (external loudspeakers are prohibited).

Resident-Dance Troupe Consultation Platform: Establish a "Noise Management Council" in conjunction with the community and property management, and formulate the "Self-Discipline Convention for Plaza Activities".

IV. Social Collaboration: Building a Quiet Living Environment

Government guidance: Incorporate public fitness areas into urban planning, prioritizing locations in non-densely populated areas such as parks and commercial plazas.

Public participation: Promote the "Quiet Community" public welfare campaign and cultivate a culture of "self-discipline and noise reduction".

V. Explaining the Law Through Cases: Judicial Practice Clarifies Judicial Guidance

Typical case: In 2024, a resident of a community in Nanjing sued a square dance team for noise infringement. The court ruled that the dance team should reduce its daily activity time by 1 hour, reduce the volume by 20%, and compensate the resident with 2,000 yuan for mental distress.

Key points of the judgment: The organizer of the event failed to fulfill his/her duty of reasonable care, and the event was held in violation of regulations by exceeding the decibel and time limits for an extended period of time, which constituted an infringement.

Conclusion

Noise pollution from square dancing is both a legal issue and a litmus test for community governance capabilities. Sichuan Sanyuan Environment will continue to promote the implementation of the "rule of law + technology + co-governance" model to help achieve the goal of a livable community where "fitness does not disturb residents and neighbors live in harmony."