Noise Pollution

The Environmental Protection Act 1994 specifies a number of noise sources that local governments are responsible for administering, including:

Air-Conditioning Equipment and Refrigeration equipment

Noise should not exceed the following levels between:

• 7am to 10pm  the noise is no louder than 5dB(A) above the background noise level; or
• 10pm to 7am the noise is no louder than 3dB(A) above the background noise level.

Building work

This relates to building activities that require a building approval and applies to builders, sub-contractors and other professions engaged to work for or on behalf of a builder.

This does not apply to people building minor structures such as fencing, children’s playhouses or general landscaping.

People constructing minor building structures must comply with the regulated devices’  hours of operation listed below.

A person must not carry out building work in a way that makes audible noise.

Power boats and jet skis – on land
(operating a boat engine at a premise)

This relates to the use of power boats for sporting purposes including water skiing, wake boarding or tobogganing/tube riding and use of jet skis for purposes other than fishing.  

Noise should not exceed the following levels between:

Pumps  

Pumps can be electrical, mechanical or pneumatic devices such as swimming and spa pool pumps, air pumps or heating/cooling pumps and noise should not exceed the following levels between:

Regulated devices 

Regulated devices include such items as generators, power tools, compressors, and lawnmowers.  

General building work activity around the home, where the builder is not required to hold a licence or an owner builder permit, must also comply with the following 

Responsible authorities

Council is not responsible for investigating all noise complaints.  Other agencies such as Qld Police Service and Queensland Health investigate complaints that are outside the powers of local government.    

Below is a list of common noise issues and the responsible authorities in Queensland to contact.

Table 1 - Regulated devices (such as power tools, lawn mowers, air conditioners, refrigeration units, pool and spa pumps, etc)

Table 2 - Animal noise

Table 3 - Amplified / music noise

Table 4 - Liquor licensed premises noise

Table 5 - Aircraft noise

Table 6 - Building work

Table 7 - Vehicles / motorbike noise

Table 8 - Power boats

Table 9 - Road noise

Contact us

For further information, please contact Council’s Customer Service Centre on 1300 79 49 29 or email enquiry@frasercoast.qld.gov.au