While padel is experiencing spectacular growth in France, with more than 1600 courts built by 2025, a parallel phenomenon is gaining momentum: that of complaints related to noise pollutionFrom an emerging and friendly sport, padel has become a source of tension and dispute for some local residents.

Expert EchoPadel supports us on this topic.

Rapid development... closer to homes

In a context of an explosion in the padel market, many clubs are opening in peri-urban areas, or even in residential areas. While this proximity facilitates access to the sport, it also generates neighborhood disputesThe noise generated by exchanges, rebounds against the windows, the shouts of players or even background music during events is sometimes experienced as an intrusion into everyday life.

In Toulouse, Aix-en-Provence, Nantes and Paris, several cases have been publicized in recent months. Some have led to temporary administrative closures, or even to legal action taken by local residents.

A legal vacuum still unclear

Regulations on sports noise pollution remains complex in France. Padel, often considered an outdoor leisure activity like soccer fields or skate parks, is not subject to strict regulations. However, judges are beginning to address the issue.

In January 2024, a padel club in Hauts-de-Seine was forced to close two outdoor courts after a court ruling in favor of a group of local residents. The cause: a noise level measured above the 50 dB permitted in residential areas at night, and a lack of sound insulation.

Technical solutions exist, but they come at a cost.

Faced with the increase in complaints, some project leaders are now anticipating this problem by integrating the construction of noise-cancelling devices : acoustic panels, insulation tarpaulins, absorbent coverings, etc.

"We decided to install insulating panels around the entire perimeter of the outdoor courts," explains Julien V., manager of a club in the Lyon region. "This represented an additional cost of €25, but it's essential for maintaining good relations with the neighborhood."

However, many smaller clubs, or those already in operation, struggle to finance this equipment after the fact, which fuels tensions.

Towards stricter national regulations?

Several local elected officials are calling for a regulatory clarificationThe Senate was approached by a parliamentarian in April 2025, requesting that specific noise thresholds for padel be set and that the installation of courts be subject to a noise impact study.

For project leaders, this legal uncertainty is becoming a major issue. On the one hand, they contribute to the development of sports and the local economy. On the other, they must deal with an increasingly sensitive context.

A balance to be found

Padel remains a formidable lever for revitalizing territories, for social connections, and for sporting activities for all ages. But like any rapidly growing phenomenon, it now requires a clear framing and shared efforts between operators, communities and local residents.

The next few years could well be decisive: either tensions escalate, or intelligent compromises emerge around a more sustainable development of padel in France.

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