Neighbourhood Noise

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Noise generated from amplified music, air conditioners, power tools and pool pumps can be a nuisance to others. People can become extremely upset by noise they have no control over and cannot stop.

Council, the Police and the Local Court can deal with neighbourhood disputes that arise from noise nuisances using the Protection of the Environment Operations (Noise Control) Regulation 2017.

The following information can assist residents in resolving and understanding neighbourhood noise issues: 

When Residential Noise is Not Allowed

 

Type of noise

When noise should not be heard 

Who to contact?
Power tools and equipment, powered garden tools and pumps.
Including:
  • Powered garden tools lawn mowers and leaf blowers
  • electrical, battery operated or pneumatic tools
  • chainsaws or circular saws
  • gas or air compressors
  • swimming pool or spa pumps
 Weekdays:
8pm to 7am

Weekends and Public Holidays:
8pm to 8am		 Council:
13 22 63
or
Police:
131 444

Musical instruments and electrically amplified sound equipment
Including:

  • radios
  • televisions
  • home entertainment systems
  • public address systems
  • computer games
  • amplifiers

Friday, Saturday, or the day immediately before a Public Holiday:

12 midnight to 8am

Any other day:
10pm to 8am

 Council:
13 22 63
or
Police:
131 444

Domestic air-conditioners and heat pumps water heaters.

 

 Weekdays:
10pm to 7am

Weekends and public holidays:
10pm to 8am		 Council: 
13 22 63

 

 

 

Building Intruder Alarm Noise

 

Type of noise
How long a building intruder alarm can sound
Who to contact?

Building Intruder alarm 

In the case of an alarm installed before 1 December 1997— 10 minutes

In the case of an alarm installed on or after 1 December 1997— 5 minutes

 

 Council:
13 22 63
or
Police:
131 444 

Building intruder alarms must comply with the Protection of the Environment Operations (Noise Control) Regulation 2017.

For more information Neighbourhood noise (nsw.gov.au). 

Vehicle Noise

 

Type of noise
When is noise not allowed?
Who to contact?

Motor vehicles
Except when entering or leaving residential premises.

(Note: It is an offence for the sound system of a motor vehicle to emit offensive noise.)

Weekdays:
8pm to 7am

Saturday, Sunday or public holiday:
8pm to 8am

Council:
13 22 63
or
Police:
131 444

Refrigeration units fitted to motor vehicles

Weekdays:
8pm to 7am

Saturday, Sunday or public holidays:
8pm to 8am

Council:
13 22 63
or
Police:
131 444

 

For more information Motor vehicle noise (nsw.gov.au)

 

 

Construction Site Noise

Construction site operators, owner-builders and public authority developments must comply with noise-restriction regulations under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997.

All construction work, including the delivery of materials, is restricted to the hours of 7.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Saturday. Work is not to be carried out on Sundays or Public Holidays unless prior development consent has been received.

If you see a construction site operating outside of these hours, Contact Council on 13 22 63 or Online.

Managing Neighbourhood Noise

Talk to your neighbour

Try to solve the problem by talking to the person who is causing the noise, they may not realise they are causing a problem.

Many neighbours are happy to do what they can to help.

Contact the Community Justice Centre

If the noise problem persists, you may also seek the assistance of the Community Justice Centre (CJC), phone 1800 990 777 for mediation.

The CJC is a government-funded, independent centre specialising in resolving differences between neighbours through mediation. 

Mediation is a long-term solution to repair neighbourhood relationships while avoiding costly, complicated legal processes.

What can Council do? 

Where there is sufficient evidence of an ongoing noise nuisance, a notice under section 264 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 may be issued to the occupier of the premises.

This requires measures to be taken to control noise from a wide range of domestic sources.

The notice can require the noise-making activities to be restricted to certain times of the day or certain days. Failure to comply with the notice can lead to fines and prosecution.

  • Contact Council's Customer Service section to make a complaint on 13 22 63 or Online

  • For noise occurring outside of the Council's operating hours, contact the local Police.

What action can you take? 

Under section 268 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, a Noise Abatement Order can be issued. 

  • If you are affected by offensive noise, you can contact the Local Court and apply for a noise abatement order to be issued

  • The Justice may summon the person alleged to be making the noise to appear before the Local Court

  • If the court is satisfied that there is offensive noise or that it is likely to recur, it may order the person to stop the noise or prevent a recurrence

  • Failure to comply with the order could lead to prosecution

What can your local Police do? 

In cases where excessive noise occurs after hours or if you are impacted by a particular noise such as a party, you may call the Police enquiries hotline: 131 444

  • A Noise Abatement Direction may be issued verbally, at any time of the day or night and can remain in force for up to 28 days from the time it is issued.

  • Any person who fails to comply with such a direction may be issued with an on-the-spot fine.

Related Information: 

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