It is a fact of life that we all make noise, whether we are talking to others, playing music, entertaining, working around the house or just going about our daily business. What is enjoyable to one person may be noise to another.
Below are some common sources of noise and the authorities you can contact to report a complaint.
At council, we will do our best to help you. Sometimes, this means referring you to another authority that is better suited to handle your enquiry more effectively. If you don’t know who you should call, contact us and we can help.
Residential noise is noise from a residential premises or property. It's one of the most common sources of noise. It includes noise from:
Residential noise includes noise from everyday household activities – for example:
Residential noise includes repairs and maintenance to an existing building. It does not include noise from constructing, demolishing or removing a residential building.
Learn more about what makes residential noise unreasonable, including prohibited times on the EPA website.
The Environment Protection Regulations 2021 cover specific sources of noise from residential properties.
Commercial, industrial and trade noise includes most noise from any place that is not a residential premises. This includes:
Commercial, industrial and trade noise does not include:
Learn more about what makes noise unreasonable, including noise limits on the EPA website.
Music noise from indoor and outdoor entertainment venues and events can include:
Music noise from indoor and outdoor entertainment venues and events does not include residential noise – for example:
Learn more about what makes noise unreasonable on the EPA website.
As listed above, Council officers may investigate sources of noise and decide whether noise is unreasonable. They consider:
Report a residential noise issue
(dog attacks or livestock on roads)