Noise Complaints Dashboard

Understanding Noise Complaint Data

The Noise Complaints Dashboard provides a snapshot of noise concerns received by the City. It displays data about the volume of noise reports, the types of noise disturbances, and the geographic distribution of reported concerns. Users can explore trends over time and compare data across categories to better understand community noise issues.

Getting Started

What's in the Dashboard

• About Tab: Contains a description of the dashboard and links to additional resources.
• Overall Complaints: Displays the total number of reported noise concerns over time, with the ability to view trends by reporting period.
• Complaints by Category: Breaks down reported noise concerns by category, such as music, traffic, mechanical noise, construction noise, across selected time periods.
• Heatmaps: Displays the distribution of noise reports on a map of the city so users can see where complaints are most frequently reported.

How to Use Filters

Users can refine the data shown by selecting the fiscal year and quarter from dropdown menus. To select multiple items in a dropdown list, hold down the Ctrl key (Command key on a Mac) while clicking the desired additional options. If all quarter filters are cleared, the dashboard will display data for the full fiscal year selected. 

Each fiscal year runs from July 1st through June 30th of the following calendar year. For example, Fiscal Year 2025–26 begins on July 1, 2025, and ends on June 30, 2026.

• Quarter 1 (Q1): July 1 – September 30
• Quarter 2 (Q2): October 1 – December 31
• Quarter 3 (Q3): January 1 – March 31
• Quarter 4 (Q4): April 1 – June 30

Data Sources and Updates

In July 2025, at the start of fiscal year 2025/2026, the noise program transitioned to a new smart complaints form, the Report a Noise Concern website. All data displayed in the dashboard is collected from such online form and 311 service requests. The dashboard shows data collected from that time onward, with updates added monthly to keep it current.

While the city maintains records of complaints received before fiscal year 2025, these are not reflected in the dashboard. Data or statistics from previous years can be requested through the Records Requests Portal | Porand.gov

Important Note: Noise complaints received via email or other channels are not incorporated into the dashboard and cannot be incorporated in the future. This is because the dashboard is designed to track and analyze complaints submitted through the Report a Noise Concern website or 311 service requests, which provide standardized information and ensure accurate, consistent data. Complaints from other channels may lack essential details, verification, or formatting required for reliable reporting and updates.

Key Terms

• Noise Concern Reported: A noise disturbance submitted by a resident or business through the online form or 311 system.
• Noise Code (Title 18): The City of Portland ordinance that defines allowable noise levels and procedures for noise enforcement.
• Not Enforced: Complaints about noise sources that fall outside the authority of the noise program or beyond the scope of Noise Code Title 18. 
• Quarter: A calendar quarter is a three-month period used in trend reporting (for example, Q3 = January through March).
• Unidentified: Complaints about noise with no clear source, such as "high-pitched sound" or "unexplained bangs", which cannot be investigated due to the unknown type or origin. The Noise program prioritizes complaints that include specific dates, times, and detailed descriptions. Complaints that are vague, incomplete, or lack clear timeframes may be deprioritized or not processed.

Why This Matters

The Noise Complaints Dashboard helps the public, community groups, researchers, the Noise Review Board, and City staff track how noise concerns are reported and resolved, supports policy discussions, and strengthens community understanding of noise issues in Portland.

This dashboard provides clear and accessible data to promote transparency and inform City decisions

Visit the Noise Complaints Dashboard 

Additional Resources

For more information on noise regulations, code enforcement procedures, or filing a noise concern:

• Portland Noise Code Title 18 (City ordinance and explanatory materials)
• Report a Noise Concern (online reporting form)
• 311 Service Request (general City services information)

We welcome your feedback. If you have questions, comments, or recommendations about the Noise Complaints Dashboard, please email us at noise@portlandoregon.gov