About music noise from venues and events

Indoor and outdoor entertainment venues and outdoor entertainment events must follow rules about music noise.

What is music noise

Music noise includes music and other sounds, like singing or performing that is heard at a residence, another place where people live or sleep, school or child care centres. Music noise can include:

live or recorded music
voices, including the audience singing and announcements associated with the music
other amplified sounds and sound effects that happen with music.

Music noise can impact some people’s health and wellbeing, especially when it affects the ability to sleep, or to undertake normal activities at home.

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 versus 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.

Three parts of the series are relevant to music noise from entertainment venues:

Unreasonable noise guidelines

These guidelines explain the concept of unreasonable noise, including 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.

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 venue and outdoor event 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.

Find out more about the music noise rules for indoor and outdoor entertainment events and venues.

Indoor entertainment venues
Indoor venues are public places indoors playing music. They include:
- hotels
- nightclubs
- music venues
- restaurants
- health and fitness centres.
Music noise requirements for indoor venues

The Environment Protection Regulations 2021 (Part 5.3, Division 4) and the Noise limit and assessment protocol for the control of noise from commercial, industrial and trade premises and entertainment venues (publication 1826) (Noise Protocol), control music noise from indoor entertainment venues.

The Noise Protocol sets noise limits for indoor entertainment venues based on the time of day and the background noise level at the point of measurement.

Investigating officers make measurements at the noise sensitive area, such as a residence, school or childcare centre.

You can report music noise from indoor venues to EPA or Victoria Police. Police can direct venues to immediately stop noise after midnight.

The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulations can assist in relation to noise related complaints from licensed premises.

You can also contact your local council who may be able to investigate your noise concerns.
Outdoor entertainment venues
An outdoor entertainment venue is premises (other than residential premises) where music is played in the open air.

It includes:
- major outdoor sports and recreation facilities which would find it difficult to enclose or sound-proof the venue because of their size
- private land used for open-air events such as music festivals or concerts.
Music noise requirements for outdoor venues

There are requirements for outdoor entertainment venues. The Environment Protection Regulations 2021 ( Part 5.3, Division 4) and the Noise limit and assessment protocol for the control of noise from commercial, industrial and trade premises and entertainment venues (publication 1826) (Noise Protocol, set rules for outdoor entertainment venues. They include:
- standard operating times
- noise limits that apply
- when an event permit is required
- the number of concerts that can be held each financial year.
Outdoor entertainment events
An outdoor entertainment event is an event where music is played on public land.

It includes:
- road reservations, parks, public open spaces, and reserved land which is used for open-air events
- temporary structures such as marquees, tents or temporary soundstages which are erected for the purposes of the event
Music noise requirements for outdoor entertainment events

There are requirements for outdoor entertainment events. The Environment Protection Regulations 2021 (Part 5.3, Division 4) and the Noise limit and assessment protocol for the control of noise from commercial, industrial and trade premises and entertainment venues (publication 1826) (Noise Protocol), set rules for outdoor entertainment event managers. They include:
- standard operating times
- noise limits that apply
- when an event permit is required
- the number of concerts that can be held each financial year.
You can report music noise from outdoor entertainment events to EPA.

You can also contact your local council who may be able to investigate your noise concerns.