Problems with noise

Before you make a complaint

If you're having problems with noise, there are steps you can take to fix the issue. If the noise is near your home, speak to the person responsible. Sometimes people don't realise they're making unreasonable noise.

The Environment Protection Authority has information about what noise people can make and when they can make it. Find out more about residential noise restrictions on the Environment Protection Authority website.

If you can’t fix the problem by talking to the person responsible for the noise, you can contact the relevant authority to make a complaint. We explain who to contact based on your noise problem below.

Construction-related noise

Residential

Noise related to repairs, maintenance and the use of power tools from a residential property is allowed between:

7 am to 8 pm weekdays
9 am to 8 pm weekends

For construction noise related to a residential building site (for example, new builds or demolitions), you can see the allowed hours for noise on the EPA construction noise page.

You can contact us if residential construction noise is happening outside of these times at [email protected] or call (03) 9278 4444. A 14-day noise diary may be required depending on the type of noise. We will advise you after you contact us.

Commercial or industrial

Activity on a commercial or industrial building site is allowed between:

Monday to Friday, 7 am to 6 pm
Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm

These times are in line with the Protection of Council Assets and Control of Building Sites Local Law 2021. Report noise from commercial or industrial building sites (construction or demolition) to the Environment Protection Authority Victoria.

For any other construction-related noise, you can contact us on [email protected] or call (03) 9278 4444. A 14-day noise diary may be required depending on the type of noise. We will advise you after you contact us.

General residential noise

You can contact us if you’re often hearing unreasonable noise from a residential property from things like electrical equipment, vehicles or people.

You’ll need to record the noise into a noise diary for at least 2 weeks. At the end of the 2-week period, email your completed noise diary to us at [email protected].

Download a Noise diary template (PDF).

Download the noise diary template

Noise diary template

196.99 KB [PDF] 28 August 2024

How we manage complaints about noise from residential properties

We will review your noise diary and assess if the noise is:

a nuisance under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008
unreasonable under the Environment Protection Act 2017.

We will also visit the location of the alleged noise and collect evidence, such as:

observations
statements
photographs
sound meter readings.

We will work with the person responsible for the noise to try to fix the problem. This includes suggestions on how to reduce noise to an acceptable level. If the evidence we collect does not show the noise is a nuisance or unreasonable, we'll give you advice on how to settle the matter privately.

Noise from a barking dog

If you hear a dog barking excessively, you need to record the noise for 7 days and include this in a report to us. We have developed a:

7-day barking dog diary template
sample note for contacting a dog owner.

You can find these and more information on our Nuisance animals page.

Security alarms

A car or home security alarm must not be able to be heard beyond the boundary of the house or building.

You can contact Victoria Police to report unreasonable noise during these hours on 131 444.

Event-related noise

If noise is coming from an event at a residential property, such as a party, you can contact Victoria Police on 131 444.

General commercial or trade noise

For noise related to the operations of commercial or industrial buildings, you can report to us or report to the EPA.

For more information, see the EPA’s commercial, industrial and trade noise page.

Business deliveries

Business deliveries are allowed between:

Monday to Thursday, 7 am to 10 pm
Friday, 9 am to 10 pm
Saturday 9 am to 10 pm.

These times are in line with clause 49.1.2 of Boroondara's Amenity Local Law.

Businesses must have a permit to deliver outside these times. You can contact us if deliveries are happening outside of these times.

Noise from private entertainment venues

Entertainment venues aren’t allowed to have unreasonable noise between 12 am and 8 am.