Airport, road or railway noise: what should you check before buying?
Three public documents describe noise around an address: an airport’s noise exposure plan (PEB), with zones A to D; the noise classification of roads and railways, in five categories; and the strategic noise maps. If the house is in a PEB zone, the seller must add an aircraft noise statement to the technical diagnostics file. For the rest, visit at rush hour.
The airport noise exposure plan
Around airfields, the PEB marks out four zones, from the most to the least exposed. It is annexed to the PLU and governs planning: above all it limits new housing.
| Zone | Exposure | General effect |
|---|---|---|
| A | Very high | New homes excluded in principle |
| B | High | New homes excluded in principle |
| C | Moderate | Limited building, depending on the area |
| D | Least exposed | Building allowed, with sound insulation |
This table sums up the general logic; there are exceptions and it is the mairie that applies the PEB to a project. For an existing house the zone does not call the home into question, but it matters for an extension, a plot division or an extra dwelling. Sound insulation grants exist around some airports, under conditions.
Other data often matter for the same house, such as the state-of-risks report and radon, cavities and earthquakes. You can see how a dossier sets them out register by register in the sample dossier.
The aircraft noise statement
When the house or land is in zone A, B, C or D of a PEB, the seller fills in an aircraft noise statement (art. L112-11 of the Urban Planning Code). It states the zone, the online service where the PEB can be viewed and the option of viewing it at the mairie. This document is part of the technical diagnostics file attached to the sale agreement or deed.
It is not a section of the state-of-risks report: they are two separate documents. If either is missing, ask for it before you sign.
What the diagnostics file does not say
Roads and railways: the noise classification
The prefect classifies the noisiest land transport routes into five categories and marks out the areas affected by noise on either side (art. L571-10 of the Environment Code). The width of the area ranges from 300 metres for category 1 to 10 metres for category 5. These areas appear in an annex to the PLU.
In these areas new buildings must meet stronger sound insulation. For an older house nothing is required: it is up to you to judge the noise, the windows and the cost of insulation.
The noise classification does not say whether a road will be widened or a line built. Such projects go through a public inquiry and often a reserved site in the PLU: that is where to look for tomorrow’s noise.
Noise maps and the viewing
Large urban areas and major routes have strategic noise maps, showing average levels over the day, and environmental noise prevention plans. They are published by prefectures and local authorities. They are calculated averages: a noise peak at night or at the weekend does not show.
- Come back at a different time from the first viewing, ideally on a weekday at rush hour.
- Listen with the windows shut in the bedrooms: that is where noise weighs most.
- Check the direction of flight paths, which varies with the wind.
- Ask the mairie about road or rail projects in progress.
For one address, ScanAdresse shows whether it lies in a PEB zone, with the source and date, next to the other registers; it does not measure noise.
Frequently asked questions
How do you know whether a house is in a PEB?
The PEB can be viewed online on the State’s mapping portal and at the mairie; it is also annexed to the commune’s PLU.
Does zone D prohibit building?
As a rule no, but buildings must be insulated against noise. For a specific project, the mairie says what applies.
Must the seller mention a noisy road?
No sale document covers road noise. The noise classification is in the PLU annexes, and the viewing remains the best test.
Sources
- Service-public.fr: airport noise statement
- Service-public.fr: diagnostics required on sale
- Urban Planning Code, art. L112-11
- Environment Code, art. L571-10
ScanAdresse is a private service by SRI Group BV (VAT BE1037052239), not connected to any public authority: it brings together public data, with the source and date of every item.
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