Residential noise
Under the Environment Protection Act 2017, it is an offence to cause unreasonable noise from a residential premises. Unreasonable noise is determined by its volume, intensity, duration, character, the time, the place and how often it happens.
The Environment Protection Regulations 2021 sets out the prohibited times table, as seen below.
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Group
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Prescribed Items
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Prohibited Times
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1
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Motor vehicles (but not when entering or leaving a site).
• Vessel or personal watercraft.
• Lawnmowers or other grass-cutting devices.
• Any equipment with an internal combustion engine not in group 2
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Monday to Friday before 7 am or after 8 pm.
Weekends and public holidays before 9 am or after 8 pm.
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2
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• Electric power tools, chainsaws or circular saws.
• Gas or air compressors.
• Pneumatic power tools, hammers or other impacting tools or grinding equipment.
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Monday to Friday before 7 am or after 8 pm.
Weekends and public holidays before 9 am or after 8 pm
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3
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Heating equipment (including central heating, a hot water system or a heat pump, air conditioner or split heating system).
• Swimming pool, spa or water pumps except when used to fill a header tank.
• Vacuum cleaners.
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Monday to Friday before 7 am or after 10 pm.
Weekends and public holidays before 9 am or after 10 pm.
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4
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An air conditioner, evaporative cooler or split system used for cooling.*
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Monday to Friday before 7 am and after 11 pm. Weekends and public holidays before 9 am and after 11 pm.
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5
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• Musical instruments. • Electric audio goods, including stereos, radios, TVs and public address systems.
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Monday to Thursday before 7 am or after 10 pm.
Friday before 7 am or after 11 pm.
Saturday and public holidays before 9 am or after 11 pm.
Sunday before 9 am or after 10 pm.
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6
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• Electrical goods not in group 2, 3, 4, or 5 other than an item for personal care or grooming, or for food heating, cooling or preparation.
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Monday to Friday before 7 am or after 8 pm.
Weekends and public holidays before 9 am or after 8 pm.
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*Prohibited times do not apply to noise from an air conditioner used for cooling during a heat health alert. However, the air conditioner noise may still be unreasonable.
Prohibited times apply when the noise can be heard inside a habitable room of another residence.
Residential noise can still be unreasonable outside the prohibited times.
Resolving Noise Issues
Before making a complaint to Council, Victorian Police or the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), first discuss any noise issues with your neighbour or the person responsible for the noise. If the noise problems persist, you could contact the Dispute Settlement Centre via their website. The Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria (DSCV) is part of the Victorian Department of Justice and Community Safety and provides free resolution services to all Victorians.
If talking to your neighbour and dispute resolution do not work, you can contact Council for advice on 13 99 72.
More Information
For more information regarding residential noise, please see the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) website.