The "Law of the People's Republic of China on Noise Pollution Prevention and Control" came into effect on June 5, 2022.

Article 11: The state encourages and supports scientific and technological research, development,成果 transformation, and application in noise pollution prevention and control. It also strengthens the cultivation of specialized technical talent in this field, fostering advancements in noise control science and technology as well as the growth of related industries.

(Adopted at the 32nd Meeting of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress on December 24, 2021)

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 General Provisions

Chapter 2: Standards and Planning for Noise Pollution Control

Chapter 3: Supervision and Management of Noise Pollution Prevention

Chapter 4: Prevention and Control of Industrial Noise Pollution

Chapter 5: Prevention and Control of Construction Noise Pollution

Chapter 6: Prevention and Control of Transportation Noise Pollution

Chapter 7: Prevention and Control of Social Life Noise Pollution

Chapter 8: Legal Liability

Chapter Nine: Supplementary Provisions

Chapter 1 General Provisions

Article 1: This Law is enacted to prevent and control noise pollution, safeguard public health, protect and improve the living environment, foster social harmony, advance ecological civilization, and promote sustainable economic and social development.

Article 2: "Noise," as referred to in this law, means sounds generated during industrial production, construction activities, transportation, and social life that disturb the surrounding living environment.

Noise pollution, as defined by this law, refers to the occurrence of noise that exceeds emission standards or is generated without legally mandated preventive measures, thereby disrupting the normal daily life, work, and study of others.

Article 3: The prevention and control of noise pollution shall be governed by this Law.

The prevention and control of noise hazards incurred while performing regular production and operational duties shall be governed by labor protection laws and other relevant regulations.

Article 4: Noise pollution prevention and control shall adhere to the principles of integrated planning, source-based prevention, categorized management, collaborative governance by society, and accountability for damages.

Article 5: People's governments at or above the county level shall incorporate noise pollution control efforts into national economic and social development plans, as well as ecological environment protection plans, and ensure that funding for noise pollution prevention and control is included in their respective government budgets.

Ecological and environmental protection plans should clearly outline noise pollution prevention goals, tasks, and supporting measures.

Article 6: Local governments at all levels are responsible for the acoustic environmental quality within their administrative areas and shall take effective measures to improve it.

The country has implemented a responsibility system and an assessment framework for noise pollution prevention, integrating the achievement of noise control targets into performance evaluations.

Article 7: Local people's governments at the county level and above shall, in accordance with this Law and the regulations of the State Council, clearly define the noise pollution prevention and control supervision and management responsibilities of relevant departments. They should establish, as needed, a coordinated and collaborative mechanism for noise pollution control, strengthen inter-departmental cooperation and information sharing, and jointly advance noise pollution prevention and control efforts within their administrative areas.

Article 8: The ecological environment department under the State Council shall implement unified supervision and management of noise pollution control nationwide.

The local people's government's ecological environment department implements unified supervision and management of noise pollution control within its administrative area.

Departments at all levels responsible for housing and urban-rural development, public security, transportation, railway supervision and management, civil aviation, maritime affairs, and more implement supervision and management of noise pollution prevention and control in construction, transportation, and daily life, each within their respective areas of responsibility.

Grassroots-level mass self-governance organizations should assist the local people's government and its relevant departments in effectively controlling noise pollution.

Article 9: All organizations and individuals have the obligation to protect the acoustic environment, while also enjoying, in accordance with the law, the rights to access acoustic environmental information, participate in noise pollution prevention efforts, and oversee such measures.

Units and individuals emitting noise must take effective measures to prevent and mitigate noise pollution.

Article 10: Governments at all levels and their relevant departments shall strengthen publicity, education, and outreach efforts on noise pollution prevention laws, regulations, and related knowledge, thereby enhancing public awareness of noise control and encouraging citizens to actively participate in noise pollution prevention activities in accordance with the law.

News media should carry out public awareness campaigns on noise pollution prevention laws, regulations, and related knowledge, and provide public oversight by highlighting instances of violations against these laws and regulations.

The state encourages grassroots mass self-governance organizations, social organizations, managers of public venues, owners' committees, property service providers, volunteers, and others to promote awareness of noise pollution prevention laws, regulations, and related knowledge.

Article 11: The state encourages and supports scientific and technological research, development,成果 transformation, and application in noise pollution prevention and control. It also strengthens the cultivation of specialized technical talent in this field, fostering advancements in noise control science and technology as well as the growth of related industries.

Article 12: Units and individuals that achieve remarkable results in noise pollution prevention and control will be recognized and rewarded according to national regulations.

Chapter 2: Standards and Planning for Noise Pollution Control

Article 13: The state shall promote the establishment of a noise pollution prevention and control standards system.

The ecological and environmental authority under the State Council, along with other relevant departments of the State Council, shall, within their respective areas of responsibility, formulate and refine noise pollution prevention and control standards, while strengthening coordination and alignment among these standards.

Article 14: The ecological environment department of the State Council shall formulate the national ambient noise quality standards.

Local people's governments at the county level and above shall, based on national ambient noise quality standards, land space planning, and current land-use conditions, delineate the applicable areas for various ambient noise quality standards within their administrative regions. Areas primarily consisting of buildings used for residential purposes, scientific research, healthcare, cultural and educational activities, government and institutional offices, and social welfare facilities will be designated as concentrated zones of noise-sensitive buildings, with enhanced measures to prevent and control noise pollution.

The scope of areas covered by the acoustic environment quality standards and the designated zones where noise-sensitive buildings are concentrated should be publicly announced.

Article 15: The ecological and environmental department of the State Council shall, based on national ambient noise quality standards and the country's economic and technological conditions, formulate national noise emission standards as well as related environmental vibration control standards.

The people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government may establish local noise emission standards for areas where national noise emission standards have not yet been set. For regions where national noise emission standards already exist, local standards can be formulated that are stricter than the national ones. Local noise emission standards must be submitted to the ecological environment authority under the State Council for record-keeping purposes.

Article 16: The standardization authority under the State Council, jointly with the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Ministry of Transport, the Railway Regulatory Authority, the Civil Aviation Administration, and the Maritime Administration, shall specify noise limits in the technical specifications or product quality standards for industrial equipment, construction machinery, motor vehicles, railway locomotives and rolling stock, urban rail transit vehicles, civil aircraft, motorized vessels, electrical and electronic products, building-related equipment, and other such items—based on requirements for sound environment protection as well as the nation’s economic and technological capabilities.

The noise emission limits for products specified in the preceding paragraph must be indicated in the relevant technical documentation. Production, import, or sale of products that fail to meet these noise limits are strictly prohibited.

Government departments such as the Market Supervision Administration at or above the county level conduct supervised random inspections of products with noise limits during production and sales, and carry out supervised spot checks on noise emitted by special equipment like elevators during operation. The ecological environment authorities provide necessary cooperation in these efforts.

Article 17: Ambient noise quality standards, noise emission standards, and other relevant noise pollution prevention and control standards shall be evaluated regularly and revised promptly based on the evaluation results.

Article 18: People's governments at all levels and their relevant departments, when formulating or revising land and spatial plans as well as related plans, shall conduct environmental impact assessments in accordance with the law. They must fully consider the impact of noise generated by urban-rural development, renovation projects, and construction activities on the surrounding living environment, ensure comprehensive planning, and rationally allocate land use and development layouts to prevent and mitigate noise pollution. The sections, descriptions, or reports addressing environmental impacts must explicitly include content on noise pollution control and prevention.

Article 19: When determining the layout of construction, it is necessary to reasonably define the noise protection distances between buildings and major transportation routes, in accordance with national ambient noise quality standards and relevant acoustic design standards for civil buildings, and to specify corresponding planning and design requirements.

Article 20: The people's governments at the prefectural-level and county levels located in areas that fail to meet the national ambient noise quality standards shall promptly formulate plans for improving ambient noise quality, along with corresponding implementation measures, and take effective actions to enhance the overall noise environment.

The plan for improving acoustic environmental quality, along with its implementation measures, should be made publicly available.

Article 21: When preparing plans for improving acoustic environmental quality and their implementation schemes, as well as formulating or revising standards related to noise pollution prevention and control, it is necessary to solicit opinions from relevant industry associations, enterprises, institutions, experts, and the public.

Chapter 3: Supervision and Management of Noise Pollution Prevention

Article 22: Emissions of noise and generation of vibrations shall comply with noise emission standards, as well as relevant environmental vibration control standards and the requirements of applicable laws, regulations, and rules.

Units emitting noise and public space managers should establish a noise pollution prevention and control responsibility system, clearly defining the responsibilities of those in charge and relevant personnel.

Article 23: The ecological and environmental department under the State Council is responsible for developing noise monitoring and assessment standards. It will collaborate with relevant departments of the State Council to establish a network for monitoring ambient noise quality, plan the deployment of national ambient noise monitoring stations (locations), organize nationwide monitoring of ambient noise quality, promote the automation of monitoring processes, and centrally release information on the country’s overall ambient noise quality status.

The local people's government's ecological environment authorities, in coordination with relevant departments, shall establish ambient noise monitoring stations (or points) within their administrative areas as per regulations, organize and carry out ambient noise quality monitoring across the region, and regularly release information on the ambient noise quality status to the public.

Local people's governments and departments such as ecological environment authorities should strengthen investigations and monitoring of noise emissions in key areas, including around noise-sensitive buildings.

Article 24: Construction projects that are newly built, renovated, or expanded and may generate noise pollution must undergo an environmental impact assessment in accordance with the law.

Article 25: Noise pollution control facilities for construction projects shall be designed, constructed, and put into operation simultaneously with the main project.

Before a construction project is put into production or use, the project entity must, in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, conduct an acceptance inspection of the accompanying noise pollution control facilities, prepare an acceptance report, and make it publicly available. Projects that have not been inspected or fail the inspection are prohibited from entering production or being put into use.

Article 26: When constructing noise-sensitive buildings, it is essential to comply with relevant acoustic design standards for civil buildings. Buildings that fail to meet these standards shall not pass inspection or be approved for use. Additionally, when building noise-sensitive structures near major transportation routes, industrial zones, and other such areas, a prescribed minimum distance must be maintained, and measures must be implemented to minimize vibration and reduce noise levels.

Article 27: The state encourages and supports the research, development, and widespread adoption of low-noise technologies and equipment, and implements a system to phase out outdated processes and equipment that cause severe noise pollution.

The development and reform department of the State Council, together with relevant departments of the State Council, will determine deadlines for phasing out processes and equipment that cause severe noise pollution, and these measures will be included in the national comprehensive industrial policy catalog.

Producers, importers, sellers, or users must cease the production, import, sale, or use of equipment listed in the catalog specified in the preceding paragraph within the prescribed timeframe. Similarly, entities adopting specific processes must stop implementing those processes listed in the same catalog by the designated deadline.

Article 28: For regions that have failed to meet the targets set in their ambient noise quality improvement plans, as well as areas where noise pollution is particularly severe and has drawn strong public complaints, the ecological and environmental authorities at or above the provincial level, together with other departments responsible for supervising and managing noise pollution control, shall hold talks with the principal officials of the local government and its relevant departments. These officials will be required to implement effective measures promptly to address the issues. The outcomes of these talks and subsequent corrective actions must be made publicly available.

Article 29: The department responsible for ecological and environmental protection, along with other departments tasked with supervising and managing noise pollution control, are authorized to conduct on-site inspections of entities or locations emitting noise. Those being inspected must truthfully provide information and furnish any necessary documentation; they may neither refuse nor obstruct such inspections. Furthermore, the departments and personnel carrying out these inspections are required to maintain confidentiality regarding any trade secrets they become aware of during the on-site assessment.

Inspectors conducting on-site inspections must be at least two people and should proactively present their law enforcement credentials.

Article 30: If noise emissions cause severe pollution and the entity responsible is ordered to rectify the situation but refuses to comply, the department in charge of ecological environment or other authorities vested with responsibilities for supervising and managing noise pollution control may seize or detain the premises, facilities, equipment, tools, and materials emitting the noise.

Article 31: Any organization or individual has the right to report acts causing noise pollution to the ecological environment authorities or other departments responsible for supervising and managing noise pollution control.

The departments responsible for ecological and environmental protection, along with other authorities tasked with overseeing and managing noise pollution control, should publicize reporting hotlines, email addresses, and other contact information to make it easier for the public to report violations.

The department receiving the report should handle it promptly and maintain strict confidentiality of the whistleblower’s information. If the reported issue falls under the responsibility of another department, the receiving department must promptly forward it to the appropriate authority and inform the whistleblower accordingly. Additionally, if the whistleblower requests a response and provides valid contact details, the department handling the report is required to follow up with feedback on the outcome and any relevant updates.

Article 32: The state encourages the establishment of quiet zones such as peaceful residential communities and silent train compartments, working together to maintain a harmonious and tranquil living environment.

Article 33: During special events such as secondary school entrance exams and the national college entrance examination, local people's governments or their designated departments may impose time and area restrictions on activities that could generate noise pollution, and must announce these measures to the public in advance.

Chapter 4: Prevention and Control of Industrial Noise Pollution

Article 34: For the purposes of this Law, "industrial noise" refers to sounds generated during industrial activities that disturb the surrounding living environment.

Article 35: The site selection for industrial enterprises shall comply with land and spatial planning as well as relevant planning requirements. Local governments at the county level and above should optimize the layout of industrial enterprises in accordance with these planning guidelines, ensuring that industrial noise pollution is effectively prevented.

In areas where noise-sensitive buildings are concentrated, the construction of new noise-emitting industrial enterprises is prohibited. For existing industrial enterprises undergoing renovation or expansion, effective measures must be implemented to prevent industrial noise pollution.

Article 36: Enterprises, institutions, and other producers and operators emitting industrial noise shall adopt effective measures to reduce vibration and lower noise levels, and must obtain a pollution discharge permit or submit a pollution discharge registration form in accordance with the law.

Units subject to pollutant discharge permit management must not emit industrial noise without a valid discharge permit, and shall implement noise pollution prevention measures as required by their discharge permit.

Article 37: The ecological and environmental authorities of local governments at or above the prefectural-level city level shall, in accordance with the regulations of the State Council’s ecological and environmental authority, formulate a list of key noise-discharging units within their administrative areas based on factors such as noise emissions and requirements for improving acoustic environmental quality. This list shall be made publicly available and updated regularly as needed.

Article 38: Entities subject to pollutant discharge permit management shall conduct self-monitoring of industrial noise in accordance with regulations, maintain original monitoring records, publicly disclose the monitoring results, and assume responsibility for the authenticity and accuracy of the monitoring data.

Key noise-emitting units required by national regulations must install, operate, and maintain automatic noise monitoring equipment, and connect it to the monitoring systems of the ecological environment authorities.

Chapter 5: Prevention and Control of Construction Noise Pollution

Article 39: Construction noise as referred to in this Law means the sound generated during construction activities that disturbs the surrounding living environment.

Article 40: The construction entity shall, as required, include noise pollution control costs in the project budget and clearly specify the construction unit's responsibilities for noise pollution prevention and control in the construction contract.

Construction units shall formulate noise pollution prevention and control implementation plans as required, adopting effective measures to minimize vibration and reduce noise levels. Construction owners are responsible for overseeing the implementation of these noise pollution prevention plans by the construction units.

Article 41: When carrying out construction operations in areas with a high concentration of noise-sensitive buildings, low-noise construction techniques and equipment should be prioritized.

The State Council's department of industry and information technology, in collaboration with the State Council's departments of ecology and environment, housing and urban-rural development, and market supervision, will publish a guidance catalog of low-noise construction equipment and update it as needed.

Article 42: When carrying out construction operations in areas with a high concentration of noise-sensitive buildings, the construction entity shall, in accordance with national regulations, install an automatic noise monitoring system connected to the supervisory and administrative authorities. They must also retain the original monitoring records and assume responsibility for the authenticity and accuracy of the collected data.

Article 43: In areas where noise-sensitive buildings are concentrated, construction activities that generate noise are prohibited during nighttime hours—except for emergency repairs, disaster relief operations, or cases where continuous work is absolutely necessary due to production process requirements or other special needs.

If continuous construction work is required due to special needs, a permit must be obtained from the housing and urban-rural development or ecological environment authorities of the local people's government, or from a department designated by the local government. Additionally, the information should be prominently displayed at the construction site or otherwise announced to nearby residents.

Chapter 6: Prevention and Control of Transportation Noise Pollution

Article 44: For the purposes of this Law, "transportation noise" refers to the sound generated by vehicles such as motor vehicles, railway locomotives and rolling stock, urban rail transit vehicles, motorized ships, and aircraft as they operate, thereby disturbing the surrounding living environment.

Article 45: Governments at all levels and their relevant departments, when formulating or revising land space planning and related plans such as transportation planning, shall comprehensively consider the impact of highways, urban roads, railways, urban rail transit lines, waterways, ports, and civil airports—including their takeoff and landing routes—on the surrounding acoustic environment.

When designing the alignment of newly constructed highways and railway lines, efforts should be made to avoid areas where noise-sensitive buildings are concentrated.

The location of newly built civil airports, as well as the distance from areas with noise-sensitive buildings, must meet standard requirements.

Article 46: When developing engineering technical specifications for transportation infrastructure, noise pollution prevention requirements must be clearly defined.

When constructing, reconstructing, or expanding highways, urban elevated roads, railways, and urban rail transit lines that pass through areas with concentrated noise-sensitive buildings, the project developers must install sound barriers or implement other measures to reduce vibration and minimize noise along key sections where noise pollution may occur. These measures must comply with relevant engineering technical specifications and standards for transportation infrastructure.

If the construction entity violates the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the department designated by the people's government at or above the county level shall order it to develop and implement a remediation plan.

Article 47: The silencers and horns of motor vehicles must comply with national regulations. It is prohibited to operate motor vehicles that have had their silencers removed or damaged, or that have been illegally modified—such as by installing additional exhaust pipes—to produce noise pollution through roaring, speeding, or other similar actions.

When using vehicle audio equipment, sound levels should be kept under control to prevent noise pollution.

Motor vehicles should undergo regular maintenance and servicing to ensure optimal performance and prevent noise pollution.

Article 48: When motor vehicles, railway locomotives and rolling stock, urban rail transit vehicles, motorized vessels, and other transportation tools are in operation, they must use audible devices such as horns in accordance with regulations.

Motor vehicles such as police cars, fire rescue vehicles, emergency engineering vehicles, and ambulances must install and use sirens in accordance with regulations set by the State Council's public security authorities and other relevant departments; however, sirens may not be used unless the vehicle is performing an urgent mission.

Article 49: The local people's government's ecological environment authority, in collaboration with public security organs, may, based on the needs of noise pollution control, designate specific road sections and time periods where motor vehicles are prohibited from driving or using audible devices such as horns. These measures will be publicly announced, and relevant signs and markings will be installed by the traffic management departments of public security organs in accordance with the law.

Article 50: When using broadcast loudspeakers to direct operations at stations, railway yards, ports, and similar locations, operators must keep the volume at a controlled level to minimize noise pollution.

Article 51: Highway maintenance and management units, as well as urban road maintenance and repair units, shall strengthen the upkeep and preservation of highways and urban roads, ensuring that vibration-reducing and noise-control facilities remain in proper working order.

Urban rail transit operators and railway transport enterprises should strengthen the maintenance and upkeep of urban rail transit lines, urban rail vehicles, railway lines, and railway locomotives and rolling stock. They must ensure that vibration-reduction and noise-control facilities remain in proper working order and conduct monitoring in accordance with national regulations, keeping original monitoring records and taking full responsibility for the authenticity and accuracy of the collected data.

Article 52: The people's government of the locality where a civil airport is situated shall, based on the environmental impact assessment and monitoring results determining the extent and degree to which civil aircraft noise affects the surrounding living environment, delineate prohibited and restricted zones for the construction of noise-sensitive buildings, and implement corresponding control measures.

No new noise-sensitive buildings unrelated to aviation are permitted in prohibited construction zones.

When it is necessary to construct noise-sensitive buildings in restricted development areas, the construction entity must conduct architectural soundproofing design for these buildings, ensuring compliance with relevant standards for acoustic design in civil constructions.

Article 53: Civil aircraft shall comply with the noise requirements specified in the airworthiness standards set by the civil aviation authority under the State Council.

Article 62: Enterprises, institutions, and other operators—such as those managing air conditioners, cooling towers, water pumps,油烟 purification devices, fans, generators, transformers, boilers, and loading/unloading equipment—that may generate noise pollution in daily life are required to implement measures like optimized layout and centralized emission systems to prevent and mitigate such noise pollution.

Civil airport management authorities shall, in accordance with national regulations, monitor civil aircraft noise around the airport, maintain original monitoring records, and assume responsibility for the authenticity and accuracy of the collected data. Monitoring results must be regularly submitted to the civil aviation and ecological environment authorities.

Article 55: If noise pollution caused by operations of highways, urban roads, and urban rail transit systems has resulted in severe environmental harm, the people's governments at the prefectural-level and county-level shall organize relevant departments and other related entities to conduct investigations, assessments, and accountability determinations regarding the noise pollution situation, and develop a comprehensive plan for its control and mitigation.

Units responsible for noise pollution should implement management or engineering measures as required by the comprehensive noise control plan to reduce noise pollution.

Article 56: If railway operations cause severe noise pollution due to emissions, the railway transportation enterprise and the people's governments at the prefectural-level or county-level shall investigate the noise pollution situation and develop a comprehensive plan for its control and remediation.

Railway transportation enterprises and relevant departments of prefectural-level cities, county-level governments, as well as other related organizations, should implement effective measures in accordance with the requirements of the comprehensive noise pollution control plan to mitigate noise pollution.

Article 57: If noise pollution caused by the takeoff and landing of civil aircraft reaches a severe level, the people's government of the locality where the civil airport is situated shall organize relevant departments and other related entities to investigate the noise pollution situation. Based on a comprehensive assessment of economic, technological, and management measures, they shall develop a comprehensive plan for controlling and mitigating the noise pollution.

Civil airport management authorities, local governments at all levels, and other relevant organizations should implement effective measures in accordance with the requirements of the comprehensive noise pollution control plan to mitigate noise pollution.

Article 58: When developing a comprehensive noise pollution control plan, opinions should be sought from relevant experts and the public, among others.

Chapter 7: Prevention and Control of Social Life Noise Pollution

Article 59: For the purposes of this Law, "social life noise" refers to sounds generated by human activities that disturb the surrounding living environment, excluding industrial noise, construction noise, and transportation noise.

Article 60: Society as a whole should enhance awareness of noise pollution prevention, proactively reduce noise emissions from social and daily activities, and actively engage in noise control initiatives. Together, we can foster a positive environment where everyone takes responsibility, participates actively, and reaps the benefits—ultimately safeguarding a harmonious and peaceful living environment for all.

Article 61: Operators and managers of venues such as cultural and entertainment facilities, sports complexes, and restaurants shall implement effective measures to prevent and mitigate noise pollution.

Article 62: Enterprises, institutions, and other operators—such as those managing air conditioners, cooling towers, water pumps,油烟 purification devices, fans, generators, transformers, boilers, and loading/unloading equipment—that may generate noise pollution in daily life are required to implement measures like optimized layout and centralized emission systems to prevent and mitigate such noise pollution.

Article 63: The use of high-volume public address systems or any other method involving the continuous, repetitive emission of loud noise for advertising purposes is prohibited in commercial business activities.

For other types of noise generated during business operations, operators should take effective measures to prevent noise pollution.

Article 64: The use of high-volume public address systems is prohibited in areas where noise-sensitive buildings are concentrated, except in emergency situations and under special circumstances as specified by the local people's government.

When organizing or conducting recreational, fitness, or other activities in public spaces such as streets, squares, and parks, participants must comply with the rules set by the managers of these areas regarding activity zones, time slots, noise levels, and more. Effective measures should be taken to prevent noise pollution, and the use of audio equipment that generates excessive volume is strictly prohibited.

Public space managers should reasonably designate areas, time slots, and volume levels for activities such as entertainment and fitness, and may implement measures like installing automated noise monitoring and display systems to enhance management.

Article 65: Families and their members should cultivate positive habits that minimize noise generation. When using public transportation, keeping pets, or engaging in other daily activities, they should make every effort to avoid creating noise that might disturb those around them. In cases of noise-related disputes, mutual understanding and compromise are encouraged, fostering collaborative efforts to maintain high-quality sound environments for everyone.

When using household appliances, musical instruments, or engaging in other activities in home settings, it is essential to control the volume or take other effective measures to prevent noise pollution.

Article 66: Indoor renovation activities in completed and occupied residential buildings, shops, office buildings, and other structures must adhere to prescribed work-hour restrictions and implement effective measures to prevent and mitigate noise pollution.

Article 67: Real estate developers of newly built residential housing shall disclose in the sales venue information about potential noise impacts on the homes, as well as the noise control measures already implemented or planned, and include this information in the purchase and sale contract.

Real estate developers of newly built residential housing must clearly specify the locations of shared facilities and equipment, as well as the building’s soundproofing performance, in the sales contract.

Article 68: When elevator systems, water pumps, transformers, and other shared facilities and equipment are installed in residential areas, the construction entity shall ensure their rational placement and implement measures to minimize vibration and reduce noise levels, thereby complying with relevant acoustic design standards for civil buildings.

Residential areas with built-and-operated common facilities and equipment—such as elevators, water pumps, and transformers—are maintained and managed by professional operating entities, ensuring compliance with relevant noise-control design standards for civil buildings.

Article 69: Grassroots mass self-governance organizations shall guide the owners' committee, property service providers, and individual owners to establish noise pollution prevention and control measures within this property management area—through the formulation of management rules or other appropriate means—that all owners must jointly abide by.

Article 70: For noise disturbance affecting residents in areas with a high concentration of noise-sensitive buildings, grassroots community organizations, owners' committees, and property service providers shall promptly intervene to dissuade and mediate the behavior. If dissuasion and mediation prove ineffective, they may report or file a complaint with the department responsible for supervising and managing social life noise pollution control, or with a department designated by the local people's government. The department receiving the report or complaint shall handle the matter in accordance with the law.

Chapter 8: Legal Liability

Article 71: Any entity that violates the provisions of this law by refusing or obstructing inspections and supervisions, or by providing false information during such inspections and supervisions, shall be ordered by the department responsible for ecological and environmental protection or other departments vested with noise pollution prevention and control supervision and management duties to make corrections, and shall be subject to a fine ranging from RMB 20,000 to RMB 200,000.

Article 72: Any entity that violates the provisions of this Law by manufacturing, importing, or selling products exceeding noise emission limits shall be ordered by the market supervision and administration departments or customs authorities at or above the county level—according to their respective responsibilities—to make corrections, confiscate illegal gains, and impose a fine ranging from one to three times the value of the goods. In cases of serious violations, the matter shall be submitted for approval to the people's government authorized to do so, which may then order the business to suspend operations or shut down entirely.

Violating the provisions of this law by manufacturing, importing, selling, or using outdated equipment, or by adopting obsolete processes, will result in an order to rectify the situation issued by the department designated by the people's government at or above the county level. Additionally, any illegal gains will be confiscated, and a fine ranging from one to three times the value of the goods involved will be imposed. In cases of serious violations, the matter may be submitted for approval to the people's government authorized to make such decisions, leading to an order to suspend operations or shut down entirely.

Article 73: In violation of the provisions of this Law, if a construction entity builds noise-sensitive buildings that do not meet the relevant acoustic design standards for civil buildings, the housing and urban-rural development authority of the local government at or above the county level shall order rectification and impose a fine ranging from 2% to 4% of the contract price of the construction project.

If a construction entity violates the provisions of this law by building noise-sensitive structures unrelated to aviation in areas where such construction is prohibited, the department designated by the local people's government will order an immediate halt to the illegal activity and impose a fine ranging from 2% to 10% of the contract value of the construction project. Additionally, the matter must be submitted for approval to the people's government authorized to make such decisions, which may then order the demolition of the unauthorized structures.

Article 74: Any violation of the provisions of this law—specifically, the construction of new noise-emitting industrial enterprises in areas densely populated with noise-sensitive buildings—will result in the ecological and environmental authorities ordering an immediate cessation of the illegal activity, imposing a fine ranging from RMB 100,000 to RMB 500,000, and, upon approval by the people's government authorized to do so, mandating the enterprise's closure.

Violation of the provisions of this law—specifically, renovating or expanding industrial enterprises in areas with noise-sensitive buildings without implementing effective measures to prevent industrial noise pollution—will result in an order from the environmental protection authority to rectify the situation, accompanied by a fine ranging from 100,000 yuan to 500,000 yuan. If the violator refuses to comply, the case will be submitted to the people's government authorized to approve such actions for a decision to shut down the enterprise.

Article 75: Any violation of the provisions of this law—specifically, discharging industrial noise without a discharge permit or exceeding the prescribed noise emission standards—will result in an order from the ecological and environmental authorities to rectify the situation or impose restrictions on production, temporary suspension of operations for remediation, and a fine ranging from 20,000 yuan to 200,000 yuan. In cases of serious violations, the matter may be submitted to the people's government authorized to approve such actions for a decision to halt operations or shut down the facility entirely.

Article 76: Any of the following actions that violate the provisions of this Law shall be ordered to be corrected by the department responsible for ecological and environmental protection, and subject to a fine of between 20,000 and 200,000 yuan. Failure to comply will result in an order to limit production or suspend operations for rectification.

(1) Facilities subject to pollutant discharge permit management that fail to conduct self-monitoring of industrial noise as required, fail to retain original monitoring records, or fail to publicly disclose the monitoring results;

(II) Key noise-emitting units that fail to install, operate, and maintain automatic noise monitoring equipment as required by national regulations, or fail to connect such equipment to the monitoring systems of the environmental protection authorities.

Article 77: In violation of the provisions of this Law, if a project entity or construction contractor engages in any of the following behaviors, the department designated by the people's government of the project location shall order rectification and impose a fine ranging from RMB 10,000 to RMB 100,000. If the entity refuses to comply, it may be ordered to suspend construction.

(1) Emitting construction noise exceeding the noise emission standards;

(II) Conducting construction work that generates noise during nighttime in areas with a high concentration of noise-sensitive buildings without obtaining the required certification as stipulated.

Article 78: Any of the following actions that violate the provisions of this Law shall be ordered to be corrected by the department designated by the people's government of the project's location, and a fine of between 5,000 yuan and 50,000 yuan shall be imposed. Failure to comply will result in a heavier penalty: a fine of between 50,000 yuan and 200,000 yuan.

(1) The project entity failed to include noise pollution control costs in the project budget as required;

(II) The construction unit failed to formulate a noise pollution prevention and control implementation plan as required, or failed to take effective measures to reduce vibration and lower noise levels;

(III) Construction entities carrying out work in areas with noise-sensitive buildings have failed to install automatic noise monitoring systems as required by national regulations, fail to connect these systems to the supervisory management authorities, or fail to retain the original monitoring records.

(4) When continuous construction work is necessary due to special requirements, the project owner failed to announce it to nearby residents as required.

Article 79: In violation of the provisions of this law, drivers who operate motor vehicles that have been illegally modified—such as by removing or damaging silencers, or installing aftermarket exhaust pipes—and thereby cause loud roaring or speeding; fail to use sound devices as required when the vehicle is in motion; or violate regulations restricting where and when motor vehicles may drive or use sound devices—shall be subject to penalties imposed by the traffic management departments of public security organs under local people's governments at or above the county level, in accordance with relevant laws and regulations on road traffic safety.

Failure to use audible signaling devices as required when operating railway locomotives, urban rail transit vehicles, motorized vessels, and other transportation means in violation of this law will result in corrective orders issued by the relevant departments responsible for transportation, railway supervision, maritime affairs, or the city rail transit authorities designated by local governments, along with fines ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 yuan.

Article 80: Any of the following acts in violation of this Law shall be ordered to be corrected by the departments responsible—such as those overseeing transportation, railway supervision, civil aviation, or the relevant urban road and urban rail transit authorities designated by local people's governments—and shall be subject to a fine ranging from 5,000 yuan to 50,000 yuan. Failure to comply will result in a heavier penalty, with fines ranging from 50,000 yuan to 200,000 yuan.

(1) Highway maintenance and management units, urban road maintenance and repair units, urban rail transit operators, and railway transport enterprises have failed to fulfill their maintenance and upkeep obligations, resulting in inadequate operation of vibration-reducing and noise-control facilities.

(II) Urban rail transit operators and railway transport enterprises that fail to conduct monitoring as required by national regulations, or fail to retain the original monitoring records;

(III) Civil airport management authorities, air transport enterprises, and general aviation enterprises have failed to implement measures to prevent or mitigate noise pollution from civil aircraft;

(4) The civil airport management authority has failed to monitor civil aircraft noise around the airport in accordance with national regulations, has not retained the original monitoring records, or has not submitted the monitoring results on a regular basis.

Article 81: Any of the following actions that violate the provisions of this Law shall be ordered to be corrected by the department designated by the local people's government, and a fine of between 5,000 yuan and 50,000 yuan will be imposed. If the violator refuses to comply, a heavier penalty—ranging from 50,000 yuan to 200,000 yuan—will be imposed, and, with approval from the people's government authorized to do so, the business may even be ordered to suspend operations.

(1) Emitting social life noise exceeding the noise emission standards;

(II) Using high-volume public address loudspeakers or employing other methods that continuously and repeatedly emit high noise levels for advertising purposes during commercial business activities;

(III) Failing to implement effective measures to address other noise generated during commercial activities, resulting in noise pollution.

Article 87: Any violation of the provisions of this law that results in social noise, and for which persuasion, mediation, and handling have failed to stop the behavior—leading to ongoing interference with others' normal lives, work, and studies—or any other act that disrupts public order or undermines social management and thus constitutes a violation of public security administration regulations shall be subject to administrative penalties imposed by public security authorities in accordance with the law.

(1) Using high-volume public address loudspeakers in areas where noise-sensitive buildings are concentrated;

(II) Organizing or conducting entertainment, fitness, or other activities in public spaces without complying with the public venue manager’s regulations regarding activity areas, time slots, noise levels, etc., failing to implement effective measures that result in noise pollution, or violating rules by using audio equipment that produces excessively loud volumes;

(III) Conducting indoor renovation activities in buildings that have already been completed and put into use, either failing to adhere to the prescribed working hours or failing to implement effective measures that result in noise pollution;

(IV) Other instances of social noise pollution caused by violations of legal regulations.

Article 83: Any of the following actions that violate the provisions of this Law shall be ordered to be corrected by the real estate administration department of the local people's government at or above the county level, and a fine of between 10,000 and 50,000 yuan shall be imposed; in cases of refusal to correct, sales shall be ordered to cease temporarily:

(1) Real estate developers of newly built residential housing who fail to disclose at the sales venue whether the homes may be affected by noise, as well as the noise control measures already implemented or planned, or who do not include this information in the purchase contracts;

(II) Real estate developers of newly built residential housing who have failed to clearly specify the locations of shared facilities and equipment or the building’s soundproofing features in the sales contract.

Article 84: Any of the following actions that violate the provisions of this Law shall be ordered to be corrected by the department designated by the local people's government, and a fine of between 5,000 yuan and 50,000 yuan shall be imposed; for those who refuse to comply, a heavier penalty of between 50,000 yuan and 200,000 yuan will be imposed:

(1) Residential areas where shared facilities and equipment are installed without proper planning, or where measures to reduce vibration and noise have not been implemented, fail to meet the relevant acoustic design standards for civil buildings.

(II) For the shared facilities and equipment in residential areas that are already built and in use, professional operating entities have failed to carry out maintenance and management, resulting in non-compliance with relevant acoustic design standards for civil buildings.

Article 85: Supervisory and administrative personnel responsible for noise pollution control who abuse their authority, neglect their duties, or engage in corruption shall be disciplined according to law by the supervisory authority or the appointing/removing agency/unit.

Article 86: Units and individuals harmed by noise are entitled to request the infringer to assume civil liability in accordance with the law.

For disputes over liability for compensation and the amount of compensation, mediation can be conducted upon request by the parties involved, handled by the relevant departments responsible for noise pollution prevention and control supervision, or by people's mediation committees.

The state encourages entities, individuals, and public space managers responsible for noise emissions to engage in amicable consultations with units and individuals affected by noise. Together, they can work toward resolving noise-related disputes effectively by adjusting operational and construction schedules, implementing measures to reduce vibration and lower noise levels, providing compensation payments, or arranging relocation options—whichever best addresses the situation.

Article 87: Any violation of the provisions of this law that results in social noise, and for which劝阻 (persuasion),调解 (mediation), and xử lý (handling) have failed to stop the behavior—leading to ongoing interference with others' normal lives, work, and studies—or any other act that disrupts public order or undermines social management and thus constitutes a violation of public security administration regulations shall be subject to administrative penalties imposed by public security authorities in accordance with the law.

Any violation of this law that constitutes a crime shall be subject to criminal liability in accordance with the law.

Chapter 9: Supplementary Provisions

Article 88: The meanings of the following terms used in this Law are as follows:

(1) Noise emission refers to the radiation of noise from a source into the surrounding living environment;

(2) Nighttime refers to the period between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning. However, the people's governments at or above the prefecture-level city level may specify alternative start and end times for nighttime within their respective administrative areas, provided that the nighttime duration remains set at eight hours.

(III) Noise-sensitive buildings refer to structures designated for residential use, scientific research, healthcare, cultural and educational purposes, government or institutional offices, social welfare facilities, and other settings where quietness is essential.

(4) Major transportation corridors refer to railways, expressways, first-class highways, second-class highways, urban expressways, urban arterial roads, urban secondary arterial roads, urban rail transit lines, and high-grade inland waterways.

Article 89: Provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government, or prefectural-level cities and autonomous prefectures shall, based on local conditions, formulate specific measures for noise pollution prevention and control in their respective regions.

Article 90 This law comes into effect on June 5, 2022. At the same time, the "People's Republic of China Law on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Noise Pollution" is repealed.