Neighbourhood Noise
Did you know that noise generated from amplified music, air conditioners, barking dogs, power tools and pool pumps can be a nuisance to others. People can become extremely upset by noise they have no control over resulting in stress, fatigue and heightened sensitivity.
Council, the Police and the Local Court are able to 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:
Musical instruments and electrically amplified sound equipment Friday, Saturday, or the day immediately before a Public Holiday: 12 midnight to 8am Domestic air-conditioners and heat pumps water heaters. Building Intruder alarms In the case of an alarm installed before 1 December 1997— (i) it automatically ceases to sound, whether continuously or intermittently, within 10 minutes after being activated by a detection device, and (ii) it cannot be reactivated (except by a different detection device) until it has been manually or automatically reset, or In the case of an alarm installed on or after 1 December 1997— (i) it automatically ceases to sound, whether continuously or intermittently, within 5 minutes after being activated by a detection device, and (ii) it cannot be reactivated (except by a different detection device) until it has been manually reset. Motor vehicles (Note: It is an offence for the sound system of a motor vehicle to emit offensive noise.) Weekdays: Saturday, Sunday or public holiday: Council: Refrigeration units fitted to motor vehicles Weekdays: Council: 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 that specialises in settling differences between neighbours through mediation without getting into complicated legal processes. 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 including: air-conditioners swimming pool pumps sound equipment musical instruments power tools lawnmowers intruder alarms 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 prosecution. Contact Council's Customer Service section to make a complaint on 02 4654 7777 Where a noise nuisance is occurring outside of Council's operating hours, you should contact the local Police. Under section 268 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997: 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. In cases where noises occur after hours or if you are excessively disturbed by particular noise incidents (like noisy parties), you may contact the police who can use section 276 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 to direct a person making the offensive noise to stop. 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.
Managing neighbourhood noise
Type of noise
Restricted hours
Who to contact?
Power tools and equipment, powered garden tools and pumps.
Including:
Weekdays:
8pm to 7am
Weekends and Public Holidays:
8pm to 8amCouncil:
02 4654 7777
or
Police:
131 444
Including:
Any other day:
10pm to 8amCouncil:
02 4654 7777
or
Police:
131 444
Weekdays:
10pm to 7am
Weekends and public holidays:
10pm to 8amCouncil:
02 4654 7777
Managing noise from building intruder alarms
Type of noise
Regulations
Who to contact?
Council:
02 4654 7777
or
Police:
131 444
Managing vehicle noise
Type of noise
Restricted hours
Who to contact?
Except when entering or leaving residential premises.
8pm to 7am
8pm to 8am
02 4654 7777
or
Police:
131 444
8pm to 7am
Saturday, Sunday or public holidays:
8pm to 8am
02 4654 7777
or
Police:
131 444
What you can do if neighbourhood noise is a problem
Talk to your neighbour
Contact the Community Justice Centre
Formal action you can take
Lodge a complaint
Seeking Noise Abatement Orders
Contact your local police
Call the Police enquiries hotline: 131 444
Related Information:
Construction sites
Construction site operators, owner-builders and public authority developments must comply with noise-restriction regulations under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997.
The hours for construction work are specified in the development consent. For information or enquiries about the approved hours of work for a specific construction project, phone Camden Council on 4654 7777 and speak to a Development Compliance Officer.