Road or rail noise: what can I demand?

The Confederation sets three kinds of limit values for road and rail noise. Central are the impact thresholds: if the noise stays below them, it does not, according to current knowledge, significantly disturb well-being. The lower planning values apply to new roads and railway lines. The higher alarm values show how urgent an improvement is. Which value applies to your home depends on the sensitivity level of the zone. Pure residential zones generally have level II, and mixed residential and commercial zones and agricultural zones have level III. The level is stated in your municipality's zoning plan or building regulations. For roads and railways, these values apply: in level II, the impact threshold is 60 dB(A) by day and 50 dB(A) at night, and in level III, 65 and 55 dB(A). The alarm value is 70 dB(A) by day and 65 dB(A) at night in both levels. Day means 6 to 22 hours. What counts is the noise level in the middle of the open window of living rooms and bedrooms; kitchens without a living area, bathrooms and storerooms do not count. The values are average values over the daytime or night-time period. A single loud lorry or train does not therefore automatically exceed them.

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You do not have to measure how loud it is at your home yourself. The responsible authority must establish the noise level if it has reason to believe that the limit values are being exceeded. It records the result for roads and railways in a noise pollution register. Among other things, this states the pollution found, the sensitivity level, and who owns the road or railway installation. Anyone may inspect this register. The canton is responsible for cantonal and municipal roads, the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) for national roads, and the Federal Office of Transport (FOT) for railway installations. Online, maps published by the Confederation and the cantons show noise pollution as an overview. For the values at your house, it is best to ask the cantonal noise protection agency directly, or, for a railway line, the FOT.

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You may inspect environmental information in official documents and request information about it. This includes, for example, noise calculations, an improvement project for your road, or the decision by which an authority granted concessions. At federal authorities such as FEDRO and the FOT, the Federal Act on Freedom of Information applies: everyone has access, and you do not have to give a reason for wanting the documents. At cantonal and communal authorities, access follows the law of your canton. Where rules are missing there, the federal rules apply by analogy. Make your application in writing, and name the road or railway line and the section as precisely as possible.

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If the noise from an existing road or railway exceeds the impact thresholds, the installation must be improved. The authority orders the improvement after hearing the owner of the installation. It is improved as far as is technically and operationally feasible and financially bearable, and so that the impact thresholds are complied with. The owner of the road or railway bears the costs of the improvement. The canton is responsible for cantonal and municipal roads, FEDRO for national roads, and the FOT for railway installations. Ask there whether an improvement project exists for your section, what it provides for, and whether it has already been implemented.

USG · Art. 16LSV · Art. 13LSV · Art. 16LSV · Art. 45BGE 141 II 483, E. 3.2

The law requires that noise be combated first where it arises. Possible measures include, for example, a lower speed limit, a low-noise road surface, traffic management or traffic calming. Only after that come measures along the path the sound takes to your house, such as a noise barrier. The authority must give priority to measures at the source unless overriding interests speak against this. The Federal Supreme Court stresses that before an authority may forgo an improvement, it must examine whether suitable and proportionate measures exist. These include low-noise surfaces and, in particular, a reduction in speed. When you approach the authority, ask specifically about these measures and about why they were chosen or rejected.

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The authority can lower the speed limit on a stretch of road to reduce excessive environmental pollution from noise. The measure must be proportionate. On roads with a traffic function, such as main roads and through roads, an expert report is needed first. It establishes whether the reduction is necessary, appropriate and proportionate, or whether other measures would be better. The more important the road is for traffic, the stricter the requirements for this report. For neighbourhood streets without a traffic function, no report has been needed since 2023. In every case, the authority must weigh up the interests as a whole and examine alternatives. If it is unclear how much a 30 km/h limit would achieve, a time-limited trial may be appropriate, for example only at night. Note: the rules change from 1 October 2026. From then, the authority must also take care that roads with a traffic function keep that function. Ask the authority which rules apply to your case.

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The authority can grant concessions. The road or railway then does not have to fully comply with the limit values. This is only allowed if the improvement would cause disproportionate costs or operational restrictions, or if overriding interests speak against it, for example the protection of the townscape or road safety. According to the Federal Supreme Court, concessions are the exception and are only permissible as a last resort. Beforehand, all possible and reasonable measures must have been exhausted and sufficiently examined. If concessions were granted for your road, you may request the decision and the documents relating to it. Check whether a 30 km/h limit and a low-noise surface were seriously examined.

USG · Art. 17LSV · Art. 14BGer 1C_162/2024 vom 16. Juli 2025, E. 3.1BGer 1C_589/2014 vom 3. Februar 2016, E. 5.5

Soundproof windows are the last resort. They only come into question if measures at the source and along the propagation path are not enough. For an existing road or railway, the rule is: the authority only requires house owners to install soundproof windows if the noise remains above the alarm value despite the improvement. If it lies between the impact threshold and the alarm value, there are no soundproof windows as part of the improvement. For a new or substantially altered road or railway, the threshold is lower: soundproof windows are needed there as soon as the impact thresholds cannot be complied with. Rooms in which people spend longer periods are protected. With the authority's consent, other structural measures are possible if they achieve the same effect inside. There is no duty, for example, if the windows would bring no perceptible improvement, or if the house is to be demolished within three years.

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Rail noise is governed by its own federal act. This relies first on quieter vehicles and measures at the track, then on noise barriers. Soundproof windows on buildings are provided for the remainder. Measures at the track and along the propagation path must be ordered until the impact thresholds are complied with, unless the costs would be disproportionate or overriding interests speak against it. Where such concessions have been granted, the FOT can order further measures. The Confederation pays for the measures at the track and along the propagation path. The FOT is responsible for the rail improvement; the cantons see to the soundproofing measures on buildings. The time limits for improvement have expired; the Act remains in force until the end of 2028. Ask the FOT whether your section has been improved and whether further measures are still planned.

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If a road or railway line is newly built, it alone must not exceed the lower planning values. Where that would be disproportionate, concessions are possible. If the impact thresholds cannot be complied with by measures at the source, the affected buildings must be protected with soundproof windows at the expense of the owner of the new installation. If an existing installation is substantially altered, the whole installation must comply with at least the impact thresholds. An alteration is substantial, for example, if a rebuilding or expansion is expected to lead to noticeably more noise. A road or railway that would need to be improved may only be rebuilt if it is improved at the same time. A new shopping centre or neighbourhood, too, must not cause the impact thresholds to be exceeded through additional traffic on existing roads. If a road is already too loud, the additional traffic must not make it perceptibly louder.

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If nothing happens even though your road or railway is too loud, you can request a challengeable decision (a ruling) from the responsible authority. Owners and residents of noise-polluted properties on the road are especially affected and can have such a decision reviewed by a court. At federal authorities, that is, FEDRO for national roads and the FOT for railways, you can request that the authority issue a ruling on its action or inaction that affects your rights. If an improvement or plan approval procedure is already under way, raise your concern there; that procedure takes precedence. For cantonal and municipal roads, the procedural law of your canton applies. Write to the responsible body stating which section is affected, and expressly request a decision on the improvement.

VwVG · Art. 25aLSV · Art. 45BGG · Art. 89BGer 1C_589/2014 vom 3. Februar 2016, E. 1