What is statutory nuisance?

The Loi Relative à la Santé Publique, 1934 (as amended) – Guernsey’s Public Health law – lists specific conditions that may be considered “nuisances” and for which powers to require abatement are available.

The conditions referred to have to be abated if they are prejudicial to health or are likely to prejudice health.

The following are the areas that may be considered “statutory nuisances” :-

a) Premises, fixtures or appliances in such a state

b) Ditches, gutters, cesspools, drains etc so foul

c) Animals

d) Accumulations or deposits

e) Overcrowded housing

f) Houses for which a supply of water is not readily available or which are not adequately provided with domestic cooking facilities, sanitary installation or appliances

g) Work-places not kept in a cleanly state, insufficiently ventilated, overcrowded or not adequately provided with sanitary accommodation for employees

h) Dust, steam, smell or other effluvia (arising in or on any industrial, trade or business premises)

i) Smoke

j) Noise or vibration

k) Cisterns liable to contaminate domestic water supplies

l) Guttering or drains causing damp in buildings

m) Materials causing damp in buildings

n) Light

The unabridged list of nuisances can be found in the text version of The Loi Relative à la Santé Publique, 1934 (as amended) in the downloads section of this web page.