Noise complaints and regulations
Noise can greatly impact the health and well-being of neighbours. It can disrupt sleep, reduce productivity, affect mental health, and increase stress levels.
Noise that is excessive or occurs at certain times of the day can be particularly disruptive. Before starting a noisy activity, consider informing your neighbours. Letting your neighbours know in advance can help address any concerns and find a solution that works for everyone.
If you can't resolve noise issues directly, you can make a report to the appropriate authority.
Enforcing noise laws
The authority responsible for enforcing noise laws in Queensland varies. It depends on the source and location of the noise.
Noise complaints outside Council's jurisdiction should be lodged with the relevant authority.
Complaints handled by Council
City of Moreton Bay investigates noise complaints related to:
- air conditioning and refrigeration equipment
- amplifier devices such as megaphones
- building work and blasting
- domestic animals, livestock, birds and poultry
- gardening equipment and power tools
- indoor venues and open-air events
- outdoor shooting ranges
- powerboats
- pumps.
Complaints not handled by Council
| Source of noise |
Contact |
- Amplified music, for example, loud stereos or musical instruments.
- Burglar alarms.
- Hooning.
- Rowdy behaviour, for example, shouting, parties and large gatherings of people.
- Traffic noise on minor roads, such as residential streets and local thoroughfares.
- Vehicle/motorbike noise coming from private land, including noise from radios or music.
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Policelink
131 444
In emergencies, call 000
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- Noisy light vehicles under 4.5 tonnes, such as cars and utes.
- Traffic noise on major arterial roads, for example, the Bruce Highway.
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Department of Transport and Main Roads
13 23 80 |
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Aircraft noise.
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Air Services Australia
1800 802 584 |
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Animal noise from wild or native animals.
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National Parks and Wildlife
1300 130 372 |
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Noise from premises with a liquor licence, such as restaurants, bars, hotels, resorts, and clubs.
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Office of Liquor and Gaming
13 74 68 |
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Noisy heavy vehicles over 4.5 tonnes, such as trucks.
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National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
13 64 87 |
Make a noise complaint
You can make a noise complaint online. Ensure you provide detailed information about the noise source, duration, and its impact on your daily life.
Lodge a noise complaint
Council is unable to investigate anonymous noise complaints. This is because we need to show the impact it has on the complainant to help us take appropriate action.
Report animal noise nuisances
Council investigates noise complaints related to domestic animals, livestock, birds and poultry. We do this under Council's Animal Management Local Law 2023 and Animal Management Subordinate Local Law 2023. Animal noise nuisances include barking dogs, parrots squawking or screeching, and roosters crowing.
Lodge an animal noise complaint
Learn more about the requirements for keeping animals.
Days and times noise is restricted
The Environmental Protection Act 1994 sets noise regulations. It aims to protect Queensland's acoustic environment and ensure consistent monitoring standards.
The Act outlines requirements for allowable volume, time, place, and frequency of noise for certain activities or equipment. For example, it specifies when a person can start mowing or use power tools and how loud some home appliances can be.
Column one states the source of noise, column two states the times and days the noise is restricted.
| Source of noise |
Restricted times |
| Air conditioning equipment |
You cannot use air conditioning equipment between:
- 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM if it makes an audible noise that exceeds 3 decibels above background noise levels
- 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM if it makes an audible noise that exceeds 5 decibels above background noise levels.
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Amplifier devices, including:
- loud-hailers
- megaphones
- public address systems
- remote telephone bells
- repeater bells.
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These devices cannot make an audible noise between:
- 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM Monday to Friday
- 6:00 PM and 8:00 AM weekends or a public holiday.
For noise from loud music or parties, contact Queensland Police.
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| Blasting |
You must not conduct blasting if:
- the air blast overpressure is more than 115 decibels peak for 4 out of any 5 consecutive blasts
- the air blast overpressure is more than 120 decibels peak for any blast
- the ground vibration is:
- for vibrations of more than 35 hertz, more than 25 millimetres a second ground vibration, peak particle velocity
- for vibrations of no more than 35 hertz, more than 10 millimetres a second ground vibration, peak particle velocity.
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Building work
Building work includes the construction and repair of buildings by licensed builders and owner-builders. It can include:
- excavating
- concrete pouring
- drilling, grinding and cutting.
It doesn't cover general noise from builders on-site, for example, noise from unloading equipment, or playing music.
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Building work cannot make an audible noise:
- between 6:30 PM and 6:30 AM Monday to Saturday
- on a Sunday or public holiday.
For noise restrictions relating to home renovation projects, refer to power and trade tools.
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Gardening equipment, including:
- lawn mowers and whipper snippers
- leaf blowers
- mulchers
- chainsaws
- other electrical, mechanical or pneumatic power tools.
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These devices cannot make an audible noise between:
- 7:00 PM and 7:00 AM Monday to Saturday
- 7:00 PM to 8:00 AM on a Sunday or public holiday.
These noise restrictions do not apply to licensed builders, refer to building work.
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Indoor venues
An indoor venue is a building used for musical, sporting, entertainment, cultural or religious activities. An indoor activity does not include licensed premises, or a building used for an open-air event.
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You cannot use a building as an indoor venue between:
- midnight and 7:00 AM if the use makes an audible noise
- 7:00 AM and 10:00 PM if the use makes a noise louder than 5 decibels above background noise levels
- 10:00 PM to midnight if the use makes a noise louder than 3 decibels above background noise levels.
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Open-air events
An open-air event is a competition, concert, display, race, or other activity that occurs outdoors.
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You cannot use a premises for an open-air event on any day before 7:00 AM if the use makes an audible noise, or between:
- 7:00 AM and 10:00 PM if the use makes an audible noise louder than 70 decibels
- 10:00 PM and midnight if the use makes a noise louder than the lesser of the following:
- 50 decibels
- 10 decibels above background noise levels.
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Outdoor shooting ranges
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You cannot operate an outdoor shooting range between:
- 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM on any day if the use makes a noise louder than:
- 95 decibels peak hold for a range that is used at least five days a week
- 100 decibels peak hold for a range that is normally used four days a week
- 105 decibels peak hold for a range that is used no more than three days a week.
- 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM on any day if the use makes a noise louder than:
- 85 decibels peak hold for a range that is used at least five evenings a week
- 90 decibels peak hold for a range that is normally used four evenings a week
- 95 decibels peak hold for a range that is used no more than three evenings a week.
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Powerboats
Operating a powerboat on land includes flushing, testing, or preparing the engine.
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You cannot use a powerboat in a waterway for sport if the use makes an audible noise that can be heard from a nearby building for more than 2 continuous minutes:
- between 7:00 PM and 7:00 AM Monday to Saturday
- between 6:30 PM and 8:00 AM on a Sunday or public holiday.
You cannot operate a powerboat engine on land if the use makes an audible noise between:
- 7:00 PM and 7:00 AM Monday to Saturday
- 6:30 PM and 8:00 AM on a Sunday or public holiday.
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Power and trade tools, including:
- compressors
- ducted vacuuming systems
- generators
- impacting tools
- oxyacetylene burners
- electrical, mechanical and pneumatic power tools such as chainsaw, drill, electric grinder or sander, electric welder, or nail gun.
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These devices must not make an audible noise between:
- 7:00 PM and 7:00 AM Monday to Saturday
- 7:00 PM and 8:00 AM on a Sunday or public holiday.
These restrictions do not apply to registered builders, refer to building work.
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Pumps for pools, spas, water supply and other uses
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You cannot use, or allow the use of, a pump on any day between:
- 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM
- 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM if it makes an audible noise louder than 5 decibels above the background noise levels
- 7:00 PM 10:00 PM if it makes an audible noise louder than 3 decibels above the background noise levels.
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| Refrigeration equipment |
You cannot use, or permit the use of, refrigeration equipment on any day between:
- 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM if it makes an audible noise louder than 3 decibels above the background noise levels
- 7:00 AM and 10:00 PM if it makes an audible noise louder than 5 decibels above the background noise levels.
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How to reduce the impact of noise nuisances
- Install an acoustic barrier or soundproofing.
- Maintain and service household equipment and power tools.
- Schedule noisy activities, like mowing, during the day.
- Communicate with your neighbours if you plan to do something noisy and try to find a time that works for everyone.
- Keep the volume of music, televisions, and other devices at a reasonable level.
- Keep windows and doors closed.
- Be mindful of pets.
More information
For more information on noise regulations or help lodging a complaint, contact Council.