Purpose
This guide provides general guidance on how the Act and the Regulations apply to noise from commercial, industrial and trade premises. It is for people who own, operate or manage commercial, industrial and trade premises that emit noise.
This guide is also for acoustic consultants and practitioners who assess or provide advice about activities at commercial, industrial and trade premises that emit noise.
Scope
This guide covers noise emitted from commercial, industrial and trade premises.Commercial, industrial and trade premises means any premises except:
- a residential premises (other than common plant under the control of an owner’s corporation)
- a street or road – including every carriageway, footpath, reservation and traffic island on any street or road
- a railway track used by rolling stock in connection with freight or passenger services in certain circumstances
- Luna Park in St Kilda.
See part 4.1 of this guide for further detail about what falls within the definition of commercial, industrial and trade premises.
This guide is relevant to ancillary equipment at a wind energy facility that generates noise. However, it does not apply to noise from wind turbines at wind energy facilities. Find out more about noise from wind energy facilities.
Noise from residential premises (except for common plant under the control of an owner’s corporation) is not within the scope of this guide. Businesses need to be aware that the residential noise obligations in the Act can apply to their activities when they operate at a residential premises. Find out more about residential noise.
This guide does not cover noise emissions from individual vehicles on public roads. Find out more about motor vehicle noise.
This guide does not cover noise emissions from trains or trams used for the provision of a passenger service in certain circumstances. The Act (including the GED) and the Regulations (including the unreasonable noise and aggravated noise provisions) are excluded from applying to noise from these noise sources under section 251B of the Transport (Compliance and Miscellaneous) Act 1983.
This guide does not cover other laws and regulations that apply to noise in Victoria and may impose obligations on business, for example, the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008, local laws made under the Local Government Act 2020, Victoria’s planning system and industry-specific legislation.
This guide is relevant to ancillary equipment at a wind energy facility that generates noise. However, it does not apply to noise from wind turbines at wind energy facilities. Find out more about noise from wind energy facilities.
Noise from residential premises (except for common plant under the control of an owner’s corporation) is not within the scope of this guide. Businesses need to be aware that the residential noise obligations in the Act can apply to their activities when they operate at a residential premises. Find out more about residential noise.
This guide does not cover noise emissions from individual vehicles on public roads. Find out more about motor vehicle noise.
This guide does not cover noise emissions from trains or trams used for the provision of a passenger service in certain circumstances. The Act (including the GED) and the Regulations (including the unreasonable noise and aggravated noise provisions) are excluded from applying to noise from these noise sources under section 251B of the Transport (Compliance and Miscellaneous) Act 1983.
This guide does not cover other laws and regulations that apply to noise in Victoria and may impose obligations on business, for example, the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008, local laws made under the Local Government Act 2020, Victoria’s planning system and industry-specific legislation.
Reviewed 1 March 2023
