Noise pollution remains one of the main complaints received by the Ministry of Hydraulics, Sanitation, and Cleanliness. In Côte d’Ivoire, the law sets limits on neighborhood noise, and anyone exceeding these limits risks facing penalties. Excessive noise harms health and collective well-being, which is why the ministry continues to run campaigns to raise awareness and combat this growing societal problem. Noise pollution includes any sound or vibration that poses a danger, causes excessive disturbance, or negatively affects health and the environment.

To protect public peace, the government has enforced regulations to control neighborhood noise, and the Code of Hygiene and Sanitation further strengthens these protections by prohibiting activities that disrupt schools, universities, health facilities, places of worship, cemeteries, military barracks, residential areas, offices, and private companies. Noisy events that could exceed legal limits must receive authorization from the relevant administrative authority.

To ensure compliance, the government created the Urban Sanitation Brigade, later renamed the Sanitation and Cleanliness Brigade, which addresses issues such as sewage, noise pollution, illegal dumping, and public urination or defecation. Over the years, complaints have shown that Abidjan’s busiest neighborhoods experience the most noise, and the government has extended these efforts to cities across the country, including Man, San Pedro, Daloa, Séguéla, Bouaké, Korhogo, and Yamoussoukro.

Citizens can file complaints at the BAS headquarters in Deux Plateaux, Abidjan-Cocody, at ministry offices, police stations, gendarmerie units, or city halls. The government’s continued crackdown aims to create a healthy and peaceful environment for all, ensuring that communities can enjoy their right to tranquility while promoting public safety and well-being.