Businesses should make sure that any noise from their activities doesn’t impact the local community. This includes being responsible for contractors or tradespeople they may hire.

Noise is unwanted sound or vibration that can impact health, sleep and daily living, learning, communication and relaxation.

Your business can generate noise in many ways, for example, through: 

• vehicle traffic and people movement
• heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (for example, cooling towers, evaporative condensers, boilers, chillers and intake/outtake valves)
• operating process plant machinery indoors and outdoors.

Some examples of industries and businesses that need to manage noise include: 

• construction and infrastructure – such as demolition, site preparation work, site clean-up and dismantling activities, and truck and vehicle movement and operation
• manufacturing – such as food processing, metal fabrication, pharmaceutical and petroleum
• retail and small business – such as supermarkets, cafes, restaurants and shops, laundries
• transportation and logistics – such as truck depots, warehousing and vehicle maintenance
• waste and recycling – such as waste transfer and recycling centres, landfills, organic waste and compost facilities.

EPA’s ‘Applying the noise framework’ guidance series

EPA has published a comprehensive guidance series for business and community. The series explores how the environment protection framework (laws and regulations) apply to noise.

The series covers:

• how different sources of noise are regulated under the Environment Protection Act 2017 (for example, music noise vs industrial noise)
• how noise can be assessed (using qualitative ‘common sense’ assessment and quantitative technical measurements)
• how the different environment protection laws interact (the general environmental duty vs the duty not to emit unreasonable noise)
• examples of how you can comply with these laws and regulations

The series does not cover how residential noise is regulated under the Environment Protection Act 2017. For information visit, Residential noise.

The guidance is in 4 parts:

Unreasonable noise guidelines

These guidelines explain the concept of unreasonable noise. This includes pathways for determining if noise is unreasonable, and how they work with the general environmental duty. It also includes case study examples of compliance, enforcement and resolution of noise pollution events.  For information visit, Unreasonable noise guidelines.

Commerce, industry, and trade noise guidelines

These guidelines give a comprehensive explanation of how the Environment Protection Act 2017 (section 25, section 166 and section 168) and the Environment Protection Regulations 2021 (Part 5.3, Division 3) apply to noise from commercial, industrial and trade premises. For information visit, Commerce, industry, and trade guidelines.

Entertainment venues and outdoor entertainment events music noise guidelines

These guidelines give a comprehensive explanation of how the Environment Protection Act 2017 (section 25, section 166 and section 168) and the Environment Protection Regulations 2021 (Part 5.3, Division 4) apply to noise from entertainment venues and outdoor entertainment events. For information, visit Entertainment venues and outdoor entertainment events music noise guidelines.

Permit guidelines for outdoor entertainment venues and events

These guidelines explain the permitting requirements for individuals and businesses who are planning musical entertainment at an outdoor entertainment venue or event. For information visit, Permit guidelines for outdoor entertainment venues and events.

Why eliminating or reducing noise is important

Noise can impact communities and the natural behaviour of animals if it's not appropriately managed. Impacts on people can include: 

• inability to sleep or reduced quality of sleep
• impaired communication
• reduced cognitive performance
• worsening of mental health problems
• discomfort caused by noise vibration. 

Eliminating or reducing the risks of harm from noise in a structured way will help you:

• meet community expectations
• prevent harm to human health and the environment
• comply with your environmental duties and obligations.

Not eliminating or reducing your environmental risk could mean you face lost work time, legal fees, fines and criminal charges.

Noise and your duties

Businesses should make sure that any noise from their activities or premises doesn’t impact the local community. This includes being responsible for contractors or tradespeople you may hire.

There are laws that cover noise.