Brazilian cities curb noise complaints with new measurement rules

The municipality of Cuiabá in Mato Grosso announced revised procedures for measuring noise pollution. Officials abandoned the previous fixed‑distance method and will now take readings in inhabited areas adjacent to the source, following national environmental resolution 001/1990 and ABNT NBR 10.151:2019 standards. A 30‑day review will reassess pending administrative citations, with any case that cannot be re‑measured using the new method likely to be annulled.

In Belo Horizonte, the city council reported a 97.5% drop in complaints along a stretch of Avenida Amazonas after implementing a joint plan with local businesses. Measures included suspending live music, installing a shared sound system for venues, intensified inspections, and educational outreach. Fines for violations range from R$196.33 to R$24,540.38. The initiative is part of a broader trend in the city, where overall noise‑related reports have fallen year over year.