Noise nuisance
In this section you'll find information on different types of noise, including animal, residential, commercial, construction, and aircraft noise, as well as noise from licensed premises. Noise issues are the responsibility of many authorities including The Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Roads and Maritime Services (RMS), and Council.
The City of Canada Bay investigates neighbourhood noise complaints such as barking dogs, construction, and residential noise.
The information below will provide:
- Contact details for different noise issues
- Guidance on how to minimise noise nuisances
- Details on where to get assistance with negotiating noise issues with your neighbours
- How to lodge complaints where attempts to resolve the issue are not successful
Council has provided below some advice for dog owners and information for residents on how to make a complaint about a barking dog.
Advice for dog owners
If you own a dog that barks excessively, there are positive steps you can take to prevent the dog from barking too much and to reduce and to prevent offensive noise to your neighbours.
The Barking Dog Fact Sheet provides good advice on caring for your dog and provides an insight as to why your dog is barking. It also explains the law applying to noise from dogs and provides information that is intended to make life better for you, your dog, and your neighbours.
Solving an issue with a barking dog
If you experience unwanted noise such as excessive barking or other problems associated with dogs in your local neighbourhood, there are a number of things you can do.
Talk to your neighbour
Contact your neighbour first and calmly explain to them what is happening and how it is affecting you. The owner may not be aware that their animal is causing a nuisance. If you have ideas on how to resolve the issue you could suggest this to the owner.
Seek mediation
If the first approach does not work there are community justice centres available to help mediate between you and your neighbour. They may be able to help you come up with a resolution.
Lodge a complaint with Council
If you are unable to resolve the animal nuisance issue by talking with the pet owner, a complaint can be made to the City of Canada Bay by phoning 9911 6555 or by completing our Animal Nuisance Complaint Form.
Nuisance Orders
Should a cat or dog repeatedly make noise, damage other people’s property or chase people, animals or vehicles, Council may issue a Nuisance Order.
A Nuisance Order may be issued if your dog is found to be repeatedly:
- Roaming the neighbourhood
- Making a noise
- Defecating on other people's property
- Chasing a person, animal or vehicle
- Causing damage to property
More information
- Advice on Choosing and Managing your Pet - Fact Sheet
- Advice to owners regarding Barking Dogs - Fact Sheet
- Information regarding Aggression and Dog Attacks - Fact Sheet
- Nuisance dogs & cats
- Community Justice Centre
Residential noise can be caused by a number of sources including air conditioning units, music, power tools, and lawn mowers.
The table below shows the restricted hours of operation for particular equipment where the noise is loud enough that it can be heard within a neighbour's habitable room.
| Noise type | Source time restrictions |
|---|---|
| Power tools and equipment, compressors, swimming pool pumps, and equipment such as lawn mowers, leaf blowers, chain saws and the like. |
Between 8pm until 7am weekdays. Between 8pm until 8am on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. |
| Musical instruments and sound equipment such as radios, sound systems, and public address systems. |
Between 12 midnight until 8am on any Friday, Saturday or the day immediately before a public holiday. Between 10pm until 8am every other day. |
| Domestic air-conditioners and heat-pump water heaters. |
Between 10pm until 7am on weekdays. Between and 10 pm until 8am on weekends and public holidays. |
| Motor vehicles (except when entering or leaving premises). |
Between 8pm until 7am on weekdays. Between 8pm until 8am on weekends and public holidays. |
| Refrigeration units fitted to motor vehicles. |
Between 8pm until 7am on weekdays. Between 8am until 8pm on weekends and public holidays. |
Further information
- Protection of the Environment Operations (Noise Control) Regulation, 2017
- Dealing with neighbourhood noise – EPA fact sheet
- Residential noise from air-conditioners fact sheet
Resolving neighbourhood noise issues
Talk to your neighbour
Before taking formal steps in complaining about a noise nuisance it is recommended that you attempt to contact your neighbour to discuss the problem and an appropriate resolution.
Seek mediation
Where talking with your neighbour has proven unsuccessful, you may, depending on the circumstances, consider contacting a Community Justice Centre. Community Justice Centre's are government-funded, independent centres that specialise in settling differences between neighbours without getting into complicated legal processes. For more information visit the Community Justice Centre Website.
Speak to your strata management
If your noise nuisance is from a neighbour within your strata complex, lodge the complaint with your strata management. Under the Strata Schemes Management Act 1996, each strata scheme must have a set of bylaws which owners and occupiers of the strata scheme lots are required to comply with. Most strata schemes have bylaws relating to noise nuisances and have powers to enforce bylaw rules.
Lodge a complaint with Council
If you are experiencing a noise nuisance from one of the sources outlined above and your attempt to resolve it has been unsuccessful, you may lodge a complaint with Council by completing the Noise Nuisance Investigation Form.
Return the form to Council by:
- Mail: City of Canada Bay Council, Locked Bag 1470, Drummoyne NSW 1470
- Fax: 02 9911 6550
- Online: Noise Nuisance Investigation Request
Please note that anonymous complaints cannot be investigated. If incorrect location details are supplied, Council may not be able to action your request.
Other noise complaints
For noises caused by animals, domestic waste collection, construction and development, licensed premises and more, please see the relevant complaint process below:
- Barking dogs: Regulated under the NSW Companion Animal Act 1999
- Nuisance Animal Investigation Form: Noise from animals such as birds, poultry, sheep etc. is regulated under the NSW Local Government Act 1993
- Domestic waste collection noise
- Licensed premises (club, bar and pub noise).
- Construction and development
- Aircraft
Covid-19 changes: new working conditions
The NSW Government issued new orders to support construction of commercial development and infrastructure as the economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some construction works can take place on weekends and public holidays. The order allows weekday construction site operating hours to be extended to weekends and public holidays to ensure workers can practice social distancing without a loss of productivity or jobs.
Noise limits still apply to these works.
These orders are in effect until withdrawn or amended by the Minister for Planning.
The City of Canada Bay restricts the hours for construction on development sites. Approved construction hours are Monday to Saturday, 7am–5pm. No work is allowed on Sundays and public holidays. There are also restrictions on the level of noise that can be emitted from activities such as rock breaking and earthworks.
If you believe that construction noise is causing a noise nuisance please contact the correct authority as outlined below.
| Noise type | Contact |
|---|---|
| Major road or public infrastructure works eg freeways | EPA Environment Line 131 500 |
| Road construction - main roads eg Lyons Rd, Victoria Rd | Roads and Maritime Services - Road Projects RMS Major Projects Info Line 1800 633 332 |
| Road construction - local roads | City of Canada Bay 9911 6555 |
| Building construction | City of Canada Bay 9911 6555 |
Lodging a noise complaint with Council
To enable Council to investigate noise complaints, please follow the link to complete an online eRequest.
Return the form to Council by:
- Mail – City of Canada Bay Council, Locked Bag 1470, DRUMMOYNE NSW 1470
Please note: anonymous complaints can't be investigated. If incorrect location details are supplied, Council may not be able to action your request.
Commercial and industrial premises must not cause a noise nuisance to neighbouring residents.
If a nearby premises is causing a noise nuisance to you, please contact the correct authority as outlined below.
| Industrial / Commercial Noise | Contact |
|---|---|
| Large industrial complexes | EPA Environment Line 131 500 |
| Smaller factories and backyard workshops | City of Canada Bay 9911 6555 |
| Commercial premises - ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration | City of Canada Bay 9911 6555 |
Lodging a noise complaint with Council
To enable Council to investigate noise complaints, it is essential to complete the Noise Nuisance Investigation Form.
Return the form to Council by:
- Mail: City of Canada Bay Council, Locked Bag 1470, DRUMMOYNE NSW 1470
- Fax: 02 9911 6550
Please note: anonymous complaints can't be investigated. If incorrect location details are supplied, Council may not be able to action your request.
The City of Canada Bay does not regulate aircraft noise. If aircraft noise is a problem in your area contact the Sydney Airport Noise Enquiry Service by:
- Phone: 1800 802 584 or 1300 302 240
- Mail: Noise Enquiry Service, PO Box 211, Mascot NSW 1460
- Airservices Australia
Licensed premises are regulated by the local police and the NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR).
OLGR will investigate complaints regarding noise from licensed premises and/or their patrons.
Lodge a complaint with the OLGR by:
- Online complaint
- Mail to: Disturbance Complaints Unit, NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing , GPO Box 7060, Sydney NSW 2001
- Phone: 02 9995 0300