Model Noise Ordinance for Pickleball
In the summer of 2024, The Robert and Nalini Lasiewicz Foundation, a California-based non-profit known for its community-focused initiatives, took on a new challenge: pickleball noise. Recognizing that outdated noise ordinances are failing to protect residents the Foundation partnered with members of the Pickleball Noise Relief group on Facebook and the non-profit Noise Pollution Clearinghouse to draft a set of regulatory guidelines helpful to planners, developers and elected officials.
To protect communities the following should be included in local codes and ordinances:
Use land use and zoning powers to designate setbacks for outdoor pickleball courts.
Create a noise ordinance that can be enforced without special equipment or training.
Apply a process to ensure that court conversions and new court construction comply with local zoning and noise ordinances.
The 2024 Model Ordinance is based on EPA recommendations and provides sample regulatory tools such as:
Decibel levels
Setbacks from residential uses
Time of day restrictions
Day of week restrictions
Plainly audible restrictions
Prohibitions in residential zones
Advocating for local codes and zoning laws
Residents need to gather data on noise levels, research health impacts, find case studies and collect community impact statements to support their case.
Be prepared, understand existing ordinances, build relationships with council members and focus on the real-life impact of noise on residents.
Model Noise Ordinance for Pickleball
Our guest speaker Les Blomberg, Founder, Noise Pollution Clearinghouse, gave a full presentation on how this model ordinance was crafted and it's intended uses. A great primer on regulatory tools from zoning to special restrictions. (1 hour.)
CLICK HERE to download the Model Noise Ordinance for Pickleball (2024 - 9 pages)
CLICK HERE to download the EPA Model Community Noise Control Ordinance (1975 - 56 pages)
LISTEN BELOW: A Deep Dive podcast into the Model Noise Ordinance for Pickleball (8 minutes)

