Management of statutory nuisance is set out in Part III of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The act places a duty on a local authority to investigate complaints of statutory nuisance from people living within its area.

The following issues may constitute statutory nuisances:

• Noise
• Artificial Light
• Odour
• Insects
• Smoke
• Dust
• Premises
• Fumes or gases
• Accumulation or deposit
• Animals kept in such a place or manner as to be prejudicial to health or a nuisance
• Any other matter declared by any enactment to be a statutory nuisance

Where a local authority establishes any one of these issues constitutes a nuisance (ie is unreasonably interfering with the use or enjoyment of someone’s premises) or is prejudicial to health they must generally serve an abatement notice on the person responsible. Failure to comply with the notice could result in the person being prosecuted.

Information on other issues concerning local environmental quality including litter, graffiti and dog fouling can be found on our local environment page.

• Find out more about taking formal action, please visit Directgov.

A report on the results of a survey of statutory nuisance complaints received by Local Authorities in England (excluding noise and light nuisance complaints) is available:

• Local Authority Statutory Nuisance Survey 2011 (PDF 500 KB)

Additional analysis by CIEH of the results (PDF 300 KB) is also available.