Hillsborough County Pickleball Noise Dispute: Hillsborough County commissioners voted Wednesday against a proposal to temporarily stop new pickleball courts within 250 feet of homes, even as local residents filed a lawsuit over noise concerns. The decision came after weeks of debate about whether the growing sport poses risks to nearby neighborhoods.
Commission’s Split Decision
Commissioner Joshua Wostal suggested halting permits while staff studied sound levels and potential lawsuits. His motion failed in a 3-4 vote.
A second motion passed unanimously. It directed staff to review lawsuits in other areas, recommend sound limits, and propose safe distances between homes and courts.
“The decibel levels exceed even our own noise ordinances in certain cases and that’s because a tennis racket is hollow plastic,” Joshua Wostal said. “A tennis ball is a hollow rubber and then it bounces on a soft clay court. Pickleball is a hard racket with a solid ball bouncing on a hardened asphalt.”
Residents File Lawsuit
On August 15, ten homeowners in Apollo Beach sued the Andalucía Master Association. They say the homeowners’ association approved converting tennis courts into pickleball courts without a community-wide vote.
They argue pickleball is four times louder than tennis, producing constant sharp “pops” that hurt property values, disturb sleep, and threaten health.
“Ten properties are located within 250 feet of the proposed courts,” said resident and combat veteran Lori Sessano. “Those unpredictable pops triggers fight or flight response. This is similar to the sound of a handheld pistol or a pneumatic nail gun for construction.”
Sessano’s husband, Greg Jolley, also a veteran, added: “When planning for our retirement, we deliberately chose a community that was advertised as peaceful, welcoming, and non-belligerent, an environment where we could finally enjoy comfort and tranquility. Unfortunately, our experience with the current homeowners’ association has been anything but reassuring.”
Another resident and Vietnam veteran, Michael Wasielewski, told commissioners: “I’m not against recreation, but to preserve our neighborhood’s well-being, which are not designed or zoned to withstand pickleball’s continuous industrial-level noise. Installing these courts in a private residential area purposely shifts the burden from public enjoyment to private hardship.”
“Our homes are our private refuge. Please act now to protect Hillsborough County residents’ quality of life and the value of our investments,” he added.
Resident Santino Provenzano also voiced anger: “I’d like to respectfully request that the commission take immediate action to stop any project that might install pickleball within 250 feet at a minimum and more likely, 600 feet, of an existing residence as has been adopted in other geographies and in other jurisdictions.”
“I’m ashamed to live in a community that doesn’t value and respect its own residents. As has been mentioned before, there are multiple people within a close proximity of the proposed pickleball courts that are literally war heroes,” Provenzano said.
HOA Defends Decision
In a statement, the Andalucía Master Association Board said it acted with broad resident support and in line with Florida law.
“The Andalucía Master Association Board reaffirms its commitment to respecting and considering all residents’ opinions regarding the ongoing racquet court conversion project. Over the past eighteen months, the Board has facilitated a series of town halls, resident surveys, and Board meetings to ensure that all perspectives were heard. With the benefit of this extensive community input, and with overwhelming support from residents — aside from a small number of dissenting voices — the Board has moved forward with a decision grounded in both community interest and fiduciary responsibility.”
The HOA explained the clay courts served only five percent of residents but were costly to maintain. By converting them, the board said it was ensuring financial responsibility and community enjoyment. It added that noise protections, such as restricted hours, landscaping, quiet paddles, and other steps, would keep sound within county rules.
What Comes Next
Residents remain angry at both the HOA and county leaders. They said they feel ignored and will now focus on winning their lawsuit, which asks a judge to stop the courts and restore tennis play.
The case highlights a national trend, as pickleball grows rapidly while communities debate how to balance recreation with peace and property values.
News in Brief: Hillsborough County Pickleball Noise Dispute
Hillsborough County rejected a temporary pause on new pickleball courts within 250 feet of homes. Meanwhile, Apollo Beach residents sued the Andalucía Master Association, saying the noise is unbearable and harmful. The HOA defended its decision, citing community input. Commissioners instead ordered staff to study noise rules and legal risks.
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