Photo credit: Frank Schrader
by Kathleen Romito, MD, member, Quiet Communities Scientific Advisory Council
The City of Carmel-By-The-Sea, California recently launched a three-month trial to address pickleball noise complaints by limiting play to three days a week instead of seven. But will this change provide relief? As pickleball grows in popularity, noise concerns are on the rise. Communities are exploring solutions which include:
- Limiting hours of play
- Requiring quiet paddles and balls in limited environments where that can be controlled
- Installing sound barriers — though effectiveness and cost vary greatly
However, the most important factor is the courts’ proximity to nearby homes. Mandating quiet equipment or putting up sound barriers can sometimes help those living more than 350 feet away from the courts. But for people living closer, the remedies don’t seem to work as well. Additionally, neighbors living within 250 feet of pickleball courts are more likely to report severe distress, including hearing phantom noises and a sense of feeling “tortured.”
There is increasing consensus that pickleball courts do not belong near homes, though experts are still discussing the ideal setback. An oft-cited 80 page sound study done for Centennial, Colorado concludes that setbacks are the most important factor in noise abatement, and that courts closer than 350 feet will require specialized noise abatement evaluation. The study goes on to state that putting open air pickleball courts within 100 feet of homes is also not recommended.
The Pickleball Model Noise Ordinance, prepared by the Noise Pollution Clearinghouse, suggests that sound barriers may not be an effective long term solution. And with the lack of universal use of quiet equipment, the ordinance recommends 800-foot setbacks from residences.
Recently, even organizations that support pickleball have expressed support for appropriate setbacks. The facilities director at USA Pickleball, the sport’s governing organization, has written that courts within 250 feet of homes should have effective policies, sound abatement material and enforced use of quiet equipment. Paddletek, the largest paddle manufacturer in the country, suggested a 500-foot setback in a recent blog post.
Carmel’s pilot program is a step in the right direction. But for homes within 350 to 500 feet of a court, relocating the courts may be the only real solution. If you are looking for more information, the Pickleball Noise Relief Facebook page and website offer resources and support for affected residents.
