Excessive or continuous noise can come from many sources, including air conditioning units, amplified devices, building and construction, machinery and power tools, boats, pumps and refrigeration equipment. Sometimes this noise can disturb neighbours, disrupt their sleep and interfere with daily activities. If loud and frequent enough, it can also impact on people’s health or work environment.
While the noise may seem excessive or too loud to some, there are allowable noise limits in place. The following information outlines allowed decibel levels for different kinds of equipment and activities and the times that they can be used:
Equipment or Activity | Description | Allowable Noise Limits |
---|---|---|
Air Conditioning Unit Equipment | Noise from air-conditioning equipment. | Any day 10.00 pm – 7.00 am: No noise louder than three decibels above the background noise level. |
Amplified Devices –other than at an open air event or indoor venue (Council Enforcement) | Includes loud-hailers, megaphones, public address systems etc. | Business day 10.00 pm – 7.00 am: No audible noise. Any other day 6.00 pm – 8.00 am: No audible noise. |
Amplified Devices (Non-Council Enforcement) | Includes musical noise (e.g. stereo, instruments), parties or rowdy behaviour. |
Contact: Queensland Police Service or phone 131 444. |
Building and Construction |
Includes building work related to the construction of new buildings by a registered builder, works being undertaken by an owner builder or work being undertaken by professional trades persons at an established dwelling. Typically includes activities such as concrete pouring, drilling, cutting etc. Does not include general noise generated by builders just being on a site eg, noise from unloading equipment, having music playing at work sites etc. | Monday to Saturday 6.30 pm – 6.30 am: No audible noise permitted. Sundays and Public Holidays |
Machinery and Power Tools (Regulated Devices) | Includes compressors and generators, ducted vacuuming systems, grass cutters (such as lawn mowers and edge cutters), impacting tools (such as hammers and nail guns), leaf blowers and mulchers, oxyacetylene burners and electrical, mechanical or pneumatic power tools (such as chainsaws, drills and sanders). | Monday to Saturday 7.00 pm – 7.00 am: No audible noise permitted. Sundays and Public Holidays 7.00 pm – 8.00 am: No audible noise permitted. |
Motor Vehicles (incl. motorbikes, quad-bikes, cars, go-karts) | Noise/nuisance caused by motor vehicles (including noise, dust or other air pollution from hooning, revving etc). |
Contact: Queensland Police Service or phone 131 444. |
Operating power boat engine at a premises | Owners or repairers of power boat engines may run them for testing or maintenance, such as flushing the engine. | Monday to Saturday 7.00 pm – 7.00 am: No audible noise permitted. Sundays and Public Holidays 6.30 pm – 8.00 am: No audible noise permitted. |
Pumps (includes swimming pool pumps & spa blowers) | Includes an electrical, mechanical or pneumatic pump (liquid pump, air pump or heat pump). | Any day 7.00 pm to 10.00 pm: No noise louder than three decibels above the background noise level. 10.00 pm to 7.00 am: No audible noise permitted. |
Refrigeration Equipment | Includes refrigeration equipment on properties such as cold rooms and truck-mounted units. | Any day 10.00 pm – 7.00 am: No noise louder than three decibels above the background noise level. |
If an excessive or continuous noise complaint is made against you, it is important that you take any necessary steps to reduce noise to acceptable levels. If you fail to do so, financial penalties may apply.
The below handy tips are relevant for most equipment or activities that can cause excessive or continuous noise. For more specific tips, see the applicable heading below.
Air conditioning unit
Amplified devices
Building and Construction
Machinery and Power Tools
Operating power boat engine at a premises
Pumps
Refrigeration Equipment
Discuss with your neighbour
People are sometimes unaware that their equipment or activities are causing a nuisance. Ipswich City Council encourages all residents and business operators to talk to their neighbours first about nuisance problems and only make a complaint if the issue remains unresolved.
Before you proceed with lodging a complaint, please refer to the below questions to see if Council is the appropriate contact for your issue.
If you answered no to all of the questions listed above, please follow the below steps to lodge your complaint with Council. Have the following information ready:
Contact Council by one of the methods below:
Note: If the issue is occurring outside of business hours, the complaint can be actioned by council’s after-hours patrol officers. Please contact Council when the issue is occurring (24 hours) so that an investigating officer can be tasked to attend to the location while the nuisance is occurring.
Council will initially attend the property causing the issue and determine if noise pollution is detectable or the cause is evident. As part of this inspection, the following can occur: