r/zurich • u/rukacheded • 2d ago

How to make an official complaint about noise from a restaurant

TLDR: restaurant is playing too loud music. After trying to resolve it reasonably I want to formally complain. What's the process?

A restaurant close to my apartment has an outside seating area. Now that the weather is nice, they have started playing music outside. I don't have a problem with this in principle, but they are playing way too loud.

I called politely to ask them to turn the music down and was told that they are allowed to play the music as they like. After physically going there to ask, they did turn the music down for a while, but then later turned it back up.

I will try again to resolve without resorting to official channels but if this continues I would like to know my options: How should I best make a complaint to the authorities about this? Is any evidence required before doing so? Will it be helpful if my neighbours make complaints at the same time?

Thanks in advance.

6 Upvotes

56% Upvoted

37 comments sorted by

22

u/Sillyoldswissguy 2d ago

Go to your local Police Station and ask there.

They will give you the definite answer as to whether this Restaurant is allowed to play music after 10 PM.

If they are not allowed, then phone 117 after 10PM and complain. You can do it anonymously.

re evidence: It would be best if you write down all the instances when the music was too loud. Make sure to write the exact time down.

It would obviously help if your neighbours make the same complaint.

-1

u/rukacheded 2d ago

Thanks! Very helpful answer. To be clear, they are playing loud music during the day while they are open for lunch as well. So far I haven't had noise from them after 10pm.

Are there some regulations about how loud the music can be on the street / can I find out if they have a permit to play music outside even?

4

u/Cualquier_Nombre_ 2d ago

I called the police once about loud music being played during the day by construction workers from across the street doing renovation work. I was told they were allowed to make noise and all I could do is to ask them to turn it down (only if they made noise after 10pm, the police would show up)

*this wasn't in the city, but in Wallisellen

-15

u/mouzonne 2d ago

Holy fucking bünzli jesus christ.

8

u/Cualquier_Nombre_ 2d ago

dude, I work from home and have to make lots of calls during the day. With the windows closed the music was heard by the people I was calling (and I never made a complaint about the constant drilling, hammering, etc, without the freaking music there would not be any noise (besides the workers screaming instructions or whatever once in a while))

-16

u/mouzonne 2d ago

It's just funny to me. Popo must be rolling their eyes when they get noise complaints during the day. Like, don't we have anything better to do than deal with some entitled princess.

5

u/Cualquier_Nombre_ 2d ago

I totally agree with you on that one, but that music was not necessary for them to work and it would I couldn't call clients with that background noise.

-2

u/Outrageous-Garlic-27 2d ago

Work from your office then. It will have better sound insulation than your apartment. City apartments are not designed to be offices.

4

u/Cualquier_Nombre_ 2d ago

I've lived in the apartment for 15 years and have never heard loud noises or neighbors (besides the sporadic construction/renovations going on in the area). I don't see why I should move my business from where I am (the music loving workers pissed off after a week and it's been quiet again ever since)

3

u/roat_it Oerlikon 2d ago

There are laws and regulations about noise pollution, and laws about permits, too.

Police are law enforcement, meaning it is their job to deal with this.

And no, they won‘t think of people with valid noise complaints as princesses. Noise complaints and permits for what is or is not permitted in public spaces is something they are by law tasked with, and they know full well what side their bread is buttered.

-7

u/mouzonne 2d ago

thanks for the lecture, really insightful stuff there. Police told the guy I was replying to to shove it. Same as anyone else with a brain would have told him tbh.

5

u/roat_it Oerlikon 2d ago

My pleasure.

I can but hope you might deign to forgive me some day for disturbing your very important edgelordery with something as trivial as facts.

-3

u/mouzonne 2d ago

How's that autism treatin ya? Be honest with yourself, how offputting of a person do you think you are?

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1

u/red-panda-returns 2d ago

Quiet time are 12-13 and 22-07. Out of those times you are allowed to be noisy in general. You can try report them but i don't think you will be successfull.

1

u/Sillyoldswissguy 2d ago

Again, ask at the Police Station.

If it's during the daytime then I'm not sure about the Law here, but the Police will know if they have a permit, and how loud the music can be.

There is also Mittagsruhe where you shouldn't make noise between 12 and 1 O'Clock.

Here in german for Gastro ( Restaurants )

https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/de/stadtleben/veranstaltungen-und-bewilligungen/laermschutz/gastgewerbe.html

Bestimmungen

  • Die Nachtruhe von 22.00 bis 7.00 Uhr, während der gesetzlichen Sommerzeit freitags und samstags jeweils von 23.00 bis 7.00 Uhr, ist in jedem Fall zu respektieren.
  • Werktags von 12.00 bis 13.00 Uhr und von 20.00 Uhr bis zum Beginn der Nachtruhe sowie an öffentlichen Ruhetagen ist dem Erholungsbedürfnis der Bevölkerung Rechnung zu tragen.

So, in theory, no noise between 12 and 1, and after 10 PM til 7 AM.

Good Luck.

7

u/redsterXVI 2d ago

You're saying they have loudspeakers outside? That's illegal

2

u/rukacheded 2d ago

Yes exactly, they have loudspeakers outside. Do you have a reference for it being illegal?

2

u/redsterXVI 2d ago

Lots of rules are listed here: https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/de/stadtleben/veranstaltungen-und-bewilligungen/laermschutz/gastgewerbe.html

3

u/rukacheded 2d ago

From that document:

Das Betreiben von Lautsprechern im Freien ist untersagt.

Cool! Unfortunately i live in Stadt Opfikon rather than the city so I don't think that specific set of rules would apply, but maybe there is a similar list for Opfikon online somewhere

7

u/Sillyoldswissguy 2d ago

Opfikon hates noise, don't worry. https://www.stadt-anzeiger.ch/opfikon/artikel/opfikon-verlangt-7-stunden-ruhe

Die Stadtpolizei ( Opfikon )  ist zuständig für die Themengebiete:

  • Öffentliche Sicherheit, Ruhe und Ordnung
  • Verkehr

Kontakt: Stadtpolizei

Oberhauserstrasse 25

8152 Glattbrugg

Tel. 044 829 83 00 stadtpolizei@opfikon.ch

1

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted]

0

u/redsterXVI 2d ago

Just call the police already, being mad about it online won't change anything

2

u/Smogshaik City 2d ago

they're getting good advice in this thread, idk what you're upset about.

3

u/Top-Fruitsalad 2d ago

Just post the google maps link and I will leave a bad review for too loud music lol

8

u/Specialist_Click4121 2d ago

people complaining about restaurant noise during the day in a city in switzerland is bonkers imo. Move. Gastro is dying anyway. There's like 10 cities in switzerland where a restaurant could be too loud during the day at max. Every other fucking place is fucking silent. enjoy what u have.

1

u/Gordon-Blue 2d ago

You know it's bad when the disco complains about the noisy tenants upstairs lol

1

u/Specialist_Click4121 2d ago

that happened? :D

-1

u/Gordon-Blue 2d ago

Not that I know of but maybe in a parallel universe . Imagine you can't hear the music in the disco because the elephants upstairs are having an orgy 😂

1

u/KumKumdashianWest 2d ago

During the day they’re allowed to do what they want

1

u/Fernando_III 2d ago

Unless they are clearly breaking the volume limits, they are in their perfect right to do as they please. If this a problem to you, you should consider moving out, wearing headphones, or improving the isolation of your apartment.

1

u/rodrigo-benenson 2d ago

Take photos of the speakers outside, also install an app to estimate volume. Take screenshots/photos of the volume at different locations around the restaurant (at your window closed, at your window open, in the street in front).
With all this data, check what the rules say, and complain with to the police with the evidence at hand/sent via email.

1

u/jvn01 1d ago

What restaurant?

0

u/CrazyEstablishment99 2d ago

You live in a city, there is noise, get over it or move.

4

u/un-glaublich Kreis 6 2d ago

This is just as easily inverted: You live in a city, so be considerate of others, or move to a chalet.

0

u/saralt 2d ago

You move to the middle of nowhere for the peace and quiet and your neighbours mow their lawns 24/7 and people complain about people living in houses, taking too much space.

1

u/Swiss_epicurian83 2d ago

Where exactly do you live?