Neighbourhood nuisance & noise
Local environmental nuisance and littering issues are managed by your council using the Local Nuisance and Litter Control Act 2016.
Complaints and enquiries relating to neighbourhood nuisance and littering should be directed to your council.
What is neighbourhood nuisance
Neighbourhood nuisance is any adverse effect on an amenity value of an area that interferes, or is likely to interfere, unreasonably with the enjoyment of the area by persons occupying a place within, or lawfully resorting to, the area.
Nuisance can be in the form of dust, odour, noise, smoke, fumes, aerosols, vibration and insanitary or unsightly conditions from domestic, commercial and industrial premises.
For an activity to be considered a nuisance, it must unreasonably interfere with your ability to undertake the normal activities that you would reasonably expect to be able to do.
Common examples of neighbourhood nuisance and littering that will be managed by your council include:
- noise and dust from building and construction sites (domestic and commercial)
- smoke and odour from backyard burning and solid fuel (combustion) heaters
- noise from domestic pool pumps, air conditioners and power tools including lawn mowers
- mud or dirt drag out from building sites
- odour, noise or litter from restaurants or food outlets
- noise and odour from commercial activites such as panel beaters, mechanical workshops, dry cleaners
- noise from commercial refrigeration units.
The Local Government Association (LGA) has some useful information sheets about some of these activities.
EPA licensees
Nuisance from facilities which operate under an authorisation (licence) under the Environment Protection Act 1993 is the responsibility of the EPA. Incidents occurring at these facilities should be reported to the EPA.
You can check if a facility has an EPA licence.
Other responsible agencies
There are agencies and authorities that also regulate and monitor activities that impact the environment. Further information can be found below for activites and responsible organisations.
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Agriculture – overspray of chemicals |
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Agriculture – noise from agricultural activities |
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Alarms – building and vehicle alarms |
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Air conditioners (see machine noise) |
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Airport and aircraft noise |
Air Services Australia noise enquiries hotline on 1800 802 584 |
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Animals, domestic – noise or other nuisance from the keeping of animals, eg pet roosters dogs |
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Animals, native – concerns about native animals |
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Bird-scaring devices (audible) |
Council – the use of devices must comply with the Audible bird scaring devices environmental noise guidelines |
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Churches, temples, synagogues, mosques and other places of worship |
Noise and other nuisance from activities carried on in the normal course of a place of worship are excluded from the definition of harm/nuisance. Further information can be obtained from council. |
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Community events |
Noise or other nuisance from community events is managed by your council. |
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Community, strata or residential tenancies |
Noise or other nuisance occurring within units or dwellings subject to community titles, strata titles or residential tenancies are managed by the strata management group. |
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Construction sites – noise, other nuisance and littering from domestic and commercial building sites |
Councils are responsible for managing issues associated with most construction sites. Construction activities which generate significant levels of noise should only occur within the hours of 7 am to 7 pm, Monday to Saturday. The EPA is responsible for managing issues associated with construction at an EPA-licenced facility. |
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Domestic noise – noise principally consisting of music or voices, or both, resulting from an activity at domestic premises, eg loud parties, loud radios, musical instruments |
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Fireworks – noise or other nuisance from fireworks displays |
SAPOL or Safework SA |
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Liquor licenced premises – an activity on or noise coming from a premise that is licensed under the Liquor Licensing Act 1997 |
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Littering – the disposal of solid or liquid domestic or commercial waste onto land or in waters |
Council – for disposal of litter such as balloons, cigarette butts, food packaging, dirt/mud dragout from construction sites, furniture, garden and landscaping waste, lawn clippings and other plant matter. |
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Machine noise, domestic – fixed machines (air conditioners, pool pumps, etc) and non-fixed machines (power tools, lawnmowers, leaf blowers, etc) |
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Machine noise, non-domestic – fixed machines (air conditioners, compressors, refrigeration units, etc) and non-fixed machines (power tools, saws, leaf blowers, etc) |
Council, unless the business is undertaking an activity authorised under the Environment Protection Act 1993 |
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Mining operations – noise or other nuisance from a mining operation |
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Public infrastructure works – noise and other nuisance from public infrastructure works (eg road works, stormwater pipe maintenance) |
Public infrastructure works are usually essential works that benefit the community. Further information can be obtained from your council regarding approved operating hours and other conditions of approval. |
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Schools, kindergartens, childcare centres |
Noise from activities carried on in the normal course of a school, kindergarten, child care centre is excluded from the definition of environmental harm/nuisance. Further information can be obtained from your council. |
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Sporting venues |
Noise or other nuisance from sporting or associated activities at sporting venues, eg football games or sporting club fundraisers held at sporting facilities is excluded from the definition of environmental harm. Further information can be obtained from your council. |
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Street or tree maintenance machine – being used in a public place |
Street and tree maintenance activities are permitted between the hours of:
If outside of these hours and causing an unreasonable nuisance, contact your council. |
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Unsealed roads – dust or other nuisance from unsealed roads |
Council or Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, depending on who is responsible for the road |
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Vehicles – abandoned or burnt out |
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Vehicles on roads – noise from specific or individual vehicles on roads |
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Vehicles on domestic premises – vehicles on domestic premises, eg motorbikes, revving engines (car and boat) |
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Vehicles – general traffic noise |
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Vehicles – waste collection vehicles
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Waste collection vehicles are permitted to collect kerbside waste between the hours of:
If outside of these hours and causing an unreasonable nuisance, contact your council. |
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Vehicles in the workplace – vehicles operating within, entering or leaving business premises |
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Vehicles, trains and trams |
Railway operations is an activity that is licenced by the EPA. Please contact the EPA with reports of noise resulting from the operation of a railway. Noise from train and tram horns and crossing signals should be reported to Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure |
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Windfarms – noise from windfarms |
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Workplace/occupational noise |
