Thin Walls / Noise log template

Noise log template: what to write down

A noise log is a dated list of each time a noise bothered you. For each one, write the date, the start and stop time, how long it lasted, what it sounded like and how it affected you. City noise complaint forms ask for these same few things.

Read this first. This is a general template, not legal advice. Your city, landlord or HOA may want its own form or a different number of days. Ask them first.

A simple noise log template

Print this page, or copy the columns into a notes app. Fill in a row each time it happens.

DateStartStopHow longWhere it came fromWhat it sounded likeSteady or on and offHow it affected me

What city noise forms ask for

  • The City of El Paso, Texas noise complaint form asks for the date, the time the noise was unreasonable, the type of noise and the duration. It says the log must be kept for "no longer or no less than 48 continuous hours". El Paso noise complaint form (PDF)
  • The City of Penticton, British Columbia (Canada) daily log asks for exact dates, the start and end time, the duration, and a description of the type of noise and how it affected your enjoyment of your home. Penticton daily log (PDF)

The El Paso form also has a section for witnesses and says a complaint should include audio or video recordings. Thin Walls does not save audio, so it cannot give you a recording. Whether recording is lawful depends on where you live. See the privacy questions.

Tips for a log people can use

  • Write it when it happens. A note made at the time is easier to trust than a list made weeks later.
  • Use times and numbers. "2:10 AM to 2:40 AM, steady bass" is clearer than "every night".
  • Write about the sound, not the person. Do not write names or unit numbers.
  • Ask how long. The number of days differs by city, landlord and HOA.

Let your iPhone keep the times for you

Thin Walls is an iPhone noise log app. Start a log before bed and it keeps estimated sound levels and times overnight. In the morning you see when it got loud and for how long, add a note for each event, and make a PDF or ZIP report. No audio is saved and there is no account. Your first full report is free. It is a personal log, not a certified sound level meter, and no landlord, HOA or city has promised to accept it.

See what Thin Walls does · Questions about keeping a log · Help