Maryland homeowners allege racism behind repeated noise complaints

When Angela and Prince Floyd purchased their nearly 9,000-square-foot waterfront home in Accokeek, MD, for $700,000 in 2020, they looked forward to hosting large gatherings with their five children and extended family.

However, their celebrations soon attracted police visits due to noise complaints from neighbors. From June 2020 to June 2023, during 11 events such as graduations and holiday celebrations, police reportedly logged 41 calls for service at the Floyds' residence. Officers visited the property 24 times to address issues including illegal fireworks and congested streets caused by food trucks and buses.

The Floyds, who are Black, believe these complaints are racially motivated. They claim they never received a courtesy call from neighbors requesting them to lower the volume. The couple has filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging civil rights violations. "It makes me feel threatened," said Prince Floyd to the Washington Post.

Neighbors argue that the issue is about noise rather than race. "It has nothing to do with them being Black," said Margaret Littlejohn, a neighbor who is also Black and whose fiancé is named in the lawsuit. "It has to do with them not being good neighbors."

This situation underscores the complexities of handling noise complaints among neighbors of different races.

"In multiracial neighborhoods, it can be difficult to start neighborly relationships because we don’t have practice creating multiracial friendships," says attorney Mijha Godfrey, founder of Jambo Books.

Conflict resolution experts advise against involving police as a first step when dealing with noise issues. "Calling the police as a first resort has been shown to escalate neighbor conflicts," says Kimberly Best, founder of Best Conflict Solutions. Instead, she recommends approaching noisy neighbors empathetically.

"Don’t make the whole party the problem," says Best. She suggests identifying specific issues like fireworks or late-night noise and finding ways for both parties to coexist peacefully.

Preventing noise complaints involves proactive communication with neighbors before hosting events. Godfrey advises introducing oneself before any noisy parties begin and even inviting neighbors or giving them advance notice of upcoming events.

Lee Davenport of Real Estate Bees emphasizes establishing rapport early on: “You don’t have to have the neighbor on speed dial every time they run out of flour,” he says but maintaining cordial relations can prevent misunderstandings.

If direct communication fails, contacting an HOA board or hiring a mediator might be necessary steps toward resolution.

"Most people want to be good neighbors," concludes Godfrey. "Lean into that shared desire."