The short answer: there is no legal minimum distance between a heat pump (or air conditioner) and the plot boundary in the Netherlands. What does exist is a noise limit: since 1 April 2021 an outdoor unit may produce at most 40 dB(A) at the boundary in the evening and night. How many metres that requires depends on two things: how much noise the unit makes (sound power LwA) and how it is positioned. This page gives concrete reference figures.
No minimum distance, but a noise requirement
The rules are in the Dutch building decree (Bbl). They do not set a distance but a result: at most 40 dB(A) at the boundary between 19:00 and 07:00, and 45 dB(A) during the day provided the unit runs in silent mode in the evening and night. So a heat pump may in principle sit right on the boundary — as long as it is quiet enough there. Conversely, a loud unit can still be too much even at ten metres. The full explanation is on the noise limits page.
Distance table: metres required per sound power
The table below shows the indicative distance to the boundary needed to meet the 40 dB(A) night limit, computed with the same formulas as the calculator (including the standard 3 dB safety margin, without a noise screen). You find a unit's sound power LwA on the energy label and product fiche — use the value for the mode the unit runs in at night.
| Placement | 50 dB(A) | 55 dB(A) | 60 dB(A) | 65 dB(A) | 70 dB(A) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free-standing (no wall within 2.5 m) | 1.6 m | 2.8 m | 5.0 m | 8.9 m | 15.8 m |
| Against one wall | 2.2 m | 4.0 m | 7.1 m | 12.6 m | 22.4 m |
| In a corner (two walls) | 3.2 m | 5.6 m | 10.0 m | 17.8 m | 31.6 m |
Columns: sound power LwA of the unit. Assumptions: 40 dB(A) night limit, 3 dB safety margin, no noise screen or enclosure, no tonal penalty, level terrain. Use the calculator for your exact situation.
Two things stand out. First: placement matters enormously. The same unit that needs 5 metres free-standing needs double that in a corner between two walls — walls beam the sound towards the neighbours. Second: every 5 dB quieter at the source nearly halves the required distance. Choosing a quiet unit is the most powerful measure there is.
Not enough room? How to win metres back
In an average Dutch garden, 5 to 10 metres to the nearest boundary is often simply not available. There are three proven ways to reduce the required distance: a fully closed noise screen or garden wall between the unit and the boundary (about 5 dB), an acoustic enclosure (5 to 10 dB) and scheduling silent mode at night. All measures are explained on the reducing heat pump noise page.
Calculate your own situation exactly
The table is deliberately conservative and ignores your specific plot: the garden's shape, which sides border neighbours, reflections from facades, sheds and fences. The free calculator does account for all of that, following the official Dutch WPAC method: drag the unit across a map of your garden and see the calculated level at every boundary point — and the maximum sound power allowed at that spot.
Frequently asked questions
May a heat pump be placed right on the plot boundary?
Yes — there is no legal minimum distance. The only requirement is that the noise at the boundary (and at neighbours’ windows and doors) stays within the limits. Right next to the boundary that is only feasible with a very quiet unit, an acoustic enclosure or a good noise screen.
How many dB may a heat pump produce at the boundary?
At most 40 dB(A) in the evening and night (19:00–07:00). During the day 45 dB(A) applies, but only if the unit runs in silent mode in the evening and night. Note: this is sound pressure (LpA) at the boundary, not the sound power (LwA) printed on the energy label.
Does the same rule apply to air conditioners?
Yes. The noise requirements cover all outdoor installations for heating or cooling, including air-conditioning outdoor units. The calculation is identical.
Further reading
- Calculate the distance for your own garden with the tool
- The Dutch noise limits for heat pumps explained
- Reducing heat pump noise: 9 practical tips
- Noise nuisance from the neighbours’ heat pump?
The table is indicative and does not replace a formal assessment. For permits or disputes the full WPAC-method calculation applies, as performed by the calculator.