What to do when noisy generators disturb your peace?

Lester Kiewet spoke to the City of Cape Town's senior mechanical engineer in environmental health, Shannon Maree about when generators become a noise disturbance.

With load shedding happening more and more frequently, those who can afford generators are making good use of them, but this can become a nuisance for their neighbours when the generators kick in automatically and loudly at any time of the day.

Lester Kiewet spoke to the City of Cape Town's senior mechanical engineer in environmental health, Shannon Maree about when generators become a noise disturbance.

According to the rules of the City, there is a limit to how much noise is allowed to be produced and if a generator goes above that level, the responsibility falls on the owner to ensure that the noise is reduced.

Maree said the first point of intervention when a complaint is laid is mediation by the City, so that parties come to a solution, failing which the City will apply further steps.

The law...it doesn't call for silence, it says you can noise, but up to a limit, after which it becomes illegal and that gives a level of protection to others who have to endure the level of the noise.

Shannon Maree - City of Cape Town's senior mechanical engineer in environmental health

Every time there is load shedding the City receives numerous complaints about generators.

Shannon Maree - City of Cape Town's senior mechanical engineer in environmental health

In critically important places, such as hospitals, there is an exception to the noise rules, but in general, it is the responsibility of the generator owner to ensure they are not unreasonably disturbing those around them.

To find out more, listen to the full audio above.

More from Lifestyle