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New York City Launches ‘NYC Noise’ App to Crowdsource Decibel Data for Targeted Inspections

The app captures timestamped, geolocated readings to build a citywide noise map that guides DEP inspectors without recording audio or serving as direct evidence.

Overview

  • Residents can take brief decibel measurements and label the source, including construction, traffic, music, alarms, animals, HVAC, sirens or horns.
  • DEP will aggregate submissions to map hotspots and analyze patterns by time and location to better schedule inspections.
  • Individual reports log the decibel level, time, date and location but exclude audio, and DEP says they will not trigger enforcement on their own.
  • The program is designed to complement the city’s noise cameras, which have generated more than $1.7 million in fines for loud vehicles in recent years.
  • Officials point to over 700,000 311 noise complaints in 2024 as a key driver for deploying this data-focused tool.