City of Masvingo (Noise) By-laws, 2025
Masvingo charges US$10 for noise permits and fines business noise US$20 an hour, with US$100 for obstructing an officer and equipment impounded at US$20 a day.
These by-laws regulate noise in the City of Masvingo: suppression of noise, regulation of noisy businesses, trades and machinery, temporary noise permits, powers of authorised persons, obstruction, impoundment and disposal of equipment, cancellation of permits and penalties.
Impounded equipment, gadgets or machinery are advertised and auctioned if unclaimed; the council deducts its charges, pays any balance to the owner within 30 days from a special account, and forfeits anything unclaimed 30 days after the sale. A permit is cancelled if the holder is penalised for a contravention, must be returned within 48 hours, and cannot be renewed for a year.
Fees are US$10 across the board — to apply for an exemption, for a central business district business permit and for an other-area business permit (both per session), and for each type of temporary noise permit, residential and business. Impoundment and storage cost US$20.
Penalties are charged by the hour: US$20 an hour for business noise in the central business district and the same at other centres. Hindering or obstructing an authorised person carries US$100.
The hourly basis is unusual — Plumtree's by-laws of the same day charge US$10 a day for the same offence, and Shurugwi charges a flat US$40.
What changed
- Noise permits and exemptions cost US$10 each
- Business noise carries US$20 per hour in the CBD and at other centres
- Obstructing an authorised person carries US$100
- Impoundment and storage cost US$20, with unclaimed equipment auctioned
- A cancelled permit cannot be renewed for one year
Who this affects
- Bars, churches and businesses generating noise in Masvingo
- Event promoters needing temporary noise permits
- Residents affected by noise
- Owners of impounded sound equipment
Plain-language summary — not legal advice. Always read the full instrument.