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Tokyo (23 special wards) Noise Regulations and Complaint Guide

Tokyo has boundary standards for daily-life noise, but those standards do not apply between homes inside the same building.

Content reviewed: . Original research snapshot: 2026-10-27. Individual source capture and online-check dates are listed below.

Where to start

  1. For household noise, contact building management or the local consultation desk.
  2. For business or construction noise, use the official city or ward contact for the observed source.
  3. Keep incident times, duration, receiving location and any reference sound levels; retain a request number if one is issued.
Open official Tokyo (23 special wards) guidance (opens a new tab)

区市町村の環境/公害相談窓口: 区の環境担当; 都庁 03-5388-3498（区部・島しょ）; 多摩 042-523-3516

For immediate danger, use local emergency services. For other incidents, follow the official page’s category and police-response instructions.

Rules by sound source

All times are local to Tokyo (23 special wards) (Asia/Tokyo). Allowed work hours, restricted windows and periods when a standard applies have different meanings. Check zoning, holidays, permits and exceptions in the cited source.

general

Daily-life noise at the site boundaryRule with conditions

日常生活等の騒音（隣地境界線）

Provision: 東京都環境確保条例第136条・別表第13（騒音）

Measurement point: Boundary between the source site and neighboring property (not between units inside one building)

  • 40 dBA

    Type 1 — 06-08

    Standard period: Daily, 06:00–08:00

    Area: 第一種区域

  • 45 dBA

    Type 1 — 08-19

    Standard period: Daily, 08:00–19:00

    Area: 第一種区域

  • 40 dBA

    Type 1 — 19-23

    Standard period: Daily, 19:00–23:00

    Area: 第一種区域

  • 40 dBA

    Type 1 — 23-06

    Standard period: Daily, 23:00–06:00 (ends the following day)

    Area: 第一種区域

  • 45 dBA

    Type 2 — 06-08

    Standard period: Daily, 06:00–08:00

    Area: 第二種区域

  • 50 dBA

    Type 2 — 08-19

    Standard period: Daily, 08:00–19:00

    Area: 第二種区域

  • 45 dBA

    Type 2 — 19-23

    Standard period: Daily, 19:00–23:00

    Area: 第二種区域

  • 45 dBA

    Type 2 — 23-06

    Standard period: Daily, 23:00–06:00 (ends the following day)

    Area: 第二種区域

  • 55 dBA

    Type 3 — 06-08

    Standard period: Daily, 06:00–08:00

    Area: 第三種区域

  • 60 dBA

    Type 3 — 08-20

    Standard period: Daily, 08:00–20:00

    Area: 第三種区域

  • 55 dBA

    Type 3 — 20-23

    Standard period: Daily, 20:00–23:00

    Area: 第三種区域

  • 50 dBA

    Type 3 — 23-06

    Standard period: Daily, 23:00–06:00 (ends the following day)

    Area: 第三種区域

  • 60 dBA

    Type 4 — 06-08

    Standard period: Daily, 06:00–08:00

    Area: 第四種区域

  • 70 dBA

    Type 4 — 08-20

    Standard period: Daily, 08:00–20:00

    Area: 第四種区域

  • 60 dBA

    Type 4 — 20-23

    Standard period: Daily, 20:00–23:00

    Area: 第四種区域

  • 55 dBA

    Type 4 — 23-06

    Standard period: Daily, 23:00–06:00 (ends the following day)

    Area: 第四種区域

Type 1 includes specified low-rise residential, AA and educational districts. The 5 dB stricter adjustment near listed sensitive facilities applies in Type 2, 3 and 4 areas only. Same-building unit-to-unit noise is excluded. Certain sounds from children at prescribed childcare places are also excluded.

Confirm the designated area and measurement method. For upstairs footsteps in the same building, start with building management and the ward consultation desk.

Exclusions and exceptions

  • The daily-life standard does not apply between homes inside the same building.
  • Prescribed childcare-place activity sounds are excluded.

construction

Selected specified construction workRule with conditions

Selected specified construction work (特定建設作業); designated work has separate standards

Provision: 東京都環境局 — 建設工事の作業時間制限・特定建設作業の騒音基準簡易表

Measurement point: construction site boundary

  • 85 dBA · 85 dB boundary standard; 10 h/day max

    1号区域 — allowed window

    Standard period: Mon-Sat (not Sun/holidays), 07:00–19:00

  • 85 dBA · 85 dB boundary standard; 14 h/day max

    2号区域 — allowed window

    Standard period: Mon-Sat (not Sun/holidays), 06:00–22:00

85 dB is the selected statutory specified-work noise standard. Tokyo designated construction work can have an 80 dB noise criterion; vibration values such as 75 dB are not sound-level caps. Check work type, zone, maximum daily/continuous days and exceptions.

Confirm the designated area and measurement method. For upstairs footsteps in the same building, start with building management and the ward consultation desk.

reference

Same-building homes — standard excludedNo direct standard

Same-building unit-to-unit noise

Provision: 東京都環境局 — 日常生活の騒音・振動の規制、同一建物内部の適用除外

Measurement point: Between homes inside the same building

  • Tokyo ordinance standards do not apply

    n/a

    Standard period: Daily, 00:00–24:00

Useful product warning: Tokyo's daily-life standards stop at the boundary between buildings/sites, not between units in one building.

Confirm the designated area and measurement method. For upstairs footsteps in the same building, start with building management and the ward consultation desk.

Exclusions and exceptions

  • This does not rule out building rules, civil remedies or other applicable law.

Official sources and review context

Saved-source review and online retrieval are different checks. Some sites block automated retrieval; an unavailable recheck is shown below. Open the official source to confirm the current wording and any later amendments.

Related Practical Guides

Document recurring noise

Keep a factual chronology for management or official follow-up.

Phone measurement limits

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