A case initiated regarding the regulation of noise assessment and management in Riga

A case has been initiated in the Constitutional Court: 

“On the compliance of Cabinet Regulation No. 16 ‘Procedure for Noise Assessment and Management’ with the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia.” 

The case was initiated upon an application by the Ombudsman. The applicant requests the Constitutional Court to assess the constitutionality of the contested norms, insofar as they do not provide regulation for entertainment noise. 

WALLESS Senior Associate Artūrs Caics provided support to residents and an association whose complaints led the Ombudsman to apply to the Constitutional Court. 

The Ombudsman points out that the Cabinet of Ministers has been granted legislative authority to determine indicators for all types of noise, including entertainment noise, along with procedures for their application and assessment methods. By failing to improve the regulation contained in the contested provisions, the state has created a situation in which individuals are unable to enjoy peace in their homes for extended periods due to noise from entertainment venues.