Disputes and lawsuits involving pickleball courts at homeowners and condominium association communities have been pitting neighbor against neighbor across the country over the last few years.

America’s fastest-growing sport is also widely considered to be one of its noisiest, and the constant pops of plastic pickleballs smacking against paddles have proven to be too much to bear for many residents of dwellings close proximity to pickleball courts.

Clashes caused by pickleball courts near homes and condominiums were widely covered in articles several years ago in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and other major national and local media outlets. Recently, a lawsuit filed in late May against the Parkside at Boca Trail Community Association by the owners of two homes in the community that are both less than 75 feet from its pickleball courts illustrates that such quarrels don’t appear to be abating.

The lawsuit alleges that the Boca Raton community’s board of directors ordered the conversion of tennis courts into pickleball courts in violation of the association’s governing documents, which do not grant the directors the authority to alter the use of the community’s common spaces. The complaint states that the board began discussing converting some of the tennis courts to pickleball courts in 2021, but it failed to investigate the impact to the surrounding homes and notify owners of the potential downside to pickleball’s associated noise.

The complaint alleges that the community’s homeowners did not take a vote to authorize the conversion of tennis courts to pickleball courts, which went forward without their approval and without the approval of two-thirds of the directors.

According to the complaint, the homeowner plaintiffs noticed an immediate impact with the introduction of pickleball to the community. That included the constant loud popping and the “change in atmosphere surrounding pickleball play as players use loud music and are far more vocal than tennis players.”

The lawsuit details how the association, in response to the plaintiffs’ complaints, eventually formed a pickleball committee and agreed to conduct an acoustics study, which found that “the current noise emissions are too high (well over the decibel limits stated in the City of Boca Raton’s Noise Ordinance).” The suit further elaborates that normal pickleball play generates an average of 15 hits per minute, which amounts to 900 pops per hour emanating from each of the community’s three courts, and such noises can create chronic health hazards that cause stress and contribute to cardiovascular disease that could lead to premature death.

Nonetheless, the complaint says the association didn’t initially reduce the number of courts, hours of play, or take other actions to mitigate the impact on the residents. It said that the HOA ultimately prohibited pickleball play on Sundays, restricted its hours on other days to between 9:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., and recommended but did not require the use of quieter paddles.

However, the plaintiff homeowners allege that “despite these restrictions, members do not respect the new rules. Sunday play continues, there is no respect for the time restrictions, and quieter paddles are not used (not that the quieter paddles are effective at reducing the nuisance).”

The complaint goes on to state that the plaintiffs made repeated demands during HOA meetings imploring the association to abate the nuisance, and they submitted a written request in April of 2024, but none of their efforts were successful. The end result, it alleges, is the plaintiffs are suffering from physical and psychological stress caused by the continuous noise, and cannot enjoy their homes.

The suit seeks to have Palm Beach County Circuit Court issue a temporary ban on pickleball at the community’s tennis facility as well as additional relief, which could include returning the courts solely to tennis use, sound mitigation, and financial awards.

Based on the allegations in the lawsuit, it appears the plaintiff homeowners believe the Parkside association should have obtained owners’ input and approval before converting some of the tennis courts to pickleball courts.

While the plaintiffs in this case may contend the association’s responses were too little and too late, this and other communities considering the addition of pickleball courts should seek to find the right balance to satisfy the sport’s enthusiasts while also accommodating potential impacts on quality of life.

Designated playing hours for pickleball courts, which should be situated as far away from residences as possible, is perhaps an effective way to enable those most affected by the noise to know when to expect to hear it and when it will cease.

Noise dampening walls and fencing for pickleball courts are also now available.

As with the addition of any amenities, association directors and property managers should present and discuss all the options and considerations involving pickleball with owners at their board meetings.