Licensed & Commercial Premises
The activities of licensed and commercial premises in the City of Sydney can result in unwanted noise outside business hours. The City enforces regulations to protect the amenity of the community.
Licensed Premises
Music and crowd noise from restaurants, nightclubs, hotels and other licensed premises in the city can sometimes reach levels that could be considered offensive or a nuisance and unduly affect the lifestyle of residents. All Liquor Licensed premises are obliged to respond quickly and positively to resolve complaints received from neighbouring premises.
Before midnight, noise from entertainment venues such as nightclubs is limited by the City of Sydney to five decibels above background noise levels. To the average person, this represents sound levels that are clearly noticeable above background noise levels. After midnight noise from the licensed venues can not exceed background noise and must be inaudible between the hours 12 midnight and 07:00 am within habitable room of any residential premises.
Licensed premises shall not give rise to offensive noise as defined under under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (POEO Act). The City can direct a venue to engage services of an acoustical consultant to implement sound control measures to reduce noise emission.
The appropriate agencies that deal with 'noisy patrons' leaving licensed premises is the Police or NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR). You can lodge a 'Disturbance Complaint' when licensed premises or the behaviour of patrons leaving the premises causes problems. OLGR can also deal with any music or patron noise complaints about licensed premises through a disturbance complaint
You can get a 'Disturbance Complaint' form from OLGR's web site at www.olgr.nsw.gov.au/liquor_disturbance_complaints.asp which also contains information’s on how to lodge a complaint.
To lodge a complaint contact:
NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing
Tel: 02 9995 0300
Website: www.olgr.nsw.gov.au/liquor_disturbance_complaints.asp
Commercial Premises
Activities at commercial premises - such as service delivery vehicles, forklifts and loading dock operations - have the potential to cause offensive noise.
Noise from commercial premises is limited by the City of Sydney to five decibels above background noise levels.
Exhaust Fans and Air Conditioners
The noise from exhaust fans and air conditioners can be particularly intrusive.
Recognising this, the City of Sydney restricts the level of noise emitted from these devices to the maximum of no more than five decibels above the background noise level at all times.
All complaints will be investigated and handled in accordance with the New South Wales Noise Guide for Local Government.
