Student Guide

How to Be a Good, Responsible Neighbor

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  Respect Your Neighbors' Peace & Quiet

  Please recognize that most of those living next door to you, in front of and behind you, work at different times of the day and night. Many have children and some have infants, so please keep the noise to a level that cannot be heard outside your home. Most importantly, get to know your neighbors; they'll look out for your well-being if you look out for theirs.

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  Pick Up Your Trash

  Whether it's newspapers in your yard, cups left over from parties, empty bottles or paper trash, please pick up the trash in your yard and throw it away. The city has placed trash receptacles behind every home in the neighborhood. If yours is full, please throw your trash in another receptacle; do not leave it on the ground.

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  Park in Front of Your House

  Many neighbors are elderly or have visitors throughout the day and evening. Just as it would inconvenience your visitors if they could not park in front of your house, please respect your neighbors' visitors.

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  Understand the Meaning of "Nuisance"

  Under the city of Denver's Nuisance Abatement law, a public nuisance is any property or vehicle where criminal activity occurs, including noise offenses, and disturbing the peace.

  • What's "too loud"?
    If you think your music or people at your party are disturbing a neighbor, then you probably are.
  • In general, there are two city ordinances with which students are cited in the near off-campus neighborhood. They are known as:
  • DISTURBANCE OF THE PEACE
    • i. It shall be unlawful for any person to disturb or tend to disturb the peace of others by violent, tumultuous, offensive or obstreperous conduct or by loud or unusual noises or by unseemly, profane, obscene or offensive language calculated to provoke a breach of the peace or for any person to permit any such conduct in any house or upon any premises owned or possessed by such person or under their management or control, when within such person's power to prevent, so that others in the vicinity are or may be disturbed thereby. (Ch. 38, Article IV, Sec. 38-89 of the Revised Municipal Code of the City and County of Denver.), and
    • ii. No person shall use or operate or allow to be used or operated any loudspeaker, public address system, radio, tape player, disc player or other sound-amplifying equipment in or on a motor vehicle in such a manner as to be plainly audible at twenty-five (25) feet from the motor vehicle unless a permit has been issued by the manager of excise and licenses pursuant to subsection (e) herein which allows such amplification. (Ch. 38, Article IV, Sec. 38-89 of the Revised Municipal Code of the City and County of Denver).
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  Know the Legal Consequences of Making Too Much Noise

  • If the police respond to your house on a noise-related complaint, they'll contact the people in the house suspected of making the noise, and ask the residents to quiet down.
  • If they see an illegal act occurring, such as underage drinking, they'll issue you a citation, which often includes a steep fine.
  • If the police give a warning, and are required to return to the house, they'll break up the party, or shut down the music, and write the residents living at the house tickets. Fines range from $125 to $500.
  • Once a ticket is written for a nuisance violation, the police will contact the University of Denver and give the students' names to DU's Campus Safety and Campus Life departments.
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  Understand Your Landlord's Rights

  Depending upon terms of the lease, landlords may choose to fine or evict students who violate the law. The University encourages landlords to require students to sign a crime-free lease. Essentially, this lease requires students to obey the law. If student residents are caught disobeying the law, the lease stipulates various consequences.

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  DU Considers Any Violation City Ordinance or State Law as a Violation of the Student Code of Conduct.

  Students who violate the code face a variety of possible punishments, ranging from probation to community service to suspension to possible expulsion. Oftentimes, the University will contact the student's landlord and notify the landlord of the alleged offense.