Construction noise

Construction noise and vibration can be short-term, long-term or intermittent. It comes from:

• construction and demolition of commercial buildings, such as shops, offices and factories
• construction and demolition of residential buildings, including single houses, housing subdivisions and apartments
• land development
• major infrastructure projects such as road tunnels, toll roads and rail lines
  
• road repair and maintenance.

Construction noise does not include repairs and maintenance of a residential building. This is considered residential noise.

Common sources of construction noise are:

• power tools, equipment and machinery
• heavy vehicles moving to and from a construction site
• diesel generators
  
• site radios
  
• loud voices.
  

Construction noise and the law

The general environmental duty and the unreasonable noise duty apply to to managing construction noise.

Under the Environment Protection Act 2017, noise from construction sites must not be unreasonable. Noise can be unreasonable if it goes on for too long or is excessive under the circumstances.

Construction, demolition and land development should take place in [normal working hours]. Noise from a construction site in normal working hours can still be unreasonable in some cases. For example, early-morning deliveries or jackhammers going for hours can unreasonably disturb neighbours.

In some cases, you must get a permission to conduct a construction activity. Our permissions focus on activities that may have a significant impact on human health and the environment. Permissions have conditions that must be followed. These may include conditions to manage construction noise.

Councils may also have requirements for managing construction noise under planning or local laws.

Our role in construction noise

We regulate noise from the construction and demolition of commercial buildings and major infrastructure.

We develop guidance to help businesses and industry understand the law and manage construction noise.

We may provide advice to government agencies responsible for major projects and their contractors.

We also respond to reports of noise from:

• commercial and industrial construction and demolition sites
• commercial and industrial land subdivision
• major infrastructure projects.

We do not investigate noise complaints about residential construction sites – this is the role of your local council.

Impact of noise on your health

Noise can be annoying or disturbing. If the noise continues for a long time or is too loud, it can affect your health and wellbeing. Learn more about noise and your health.

Manage noise from construction sites

The construction industry must minimise the risk of noise so far as reasonably practicable.

If you are conducting a construction activity, you must consider noise in your construction site risk management process. You are responsible for contractors and tradespeople that work on your site.

Ways to manage noise on a construction site include:

• restricting work and vehicle movements to normal working hours
• scheduling noisy activities for less sensitive times
• advising neighbours of noisy activities
• displaying signs with contact details for the builder or project manager
• using the least noisy equipment or technique to do a job
• keeping site and car radios close to workers and at a low volume.

For more information, visit Construction.

Normal working hours for construction sites

We advise the following working hours for construction sites:

There is some flexibility for work hours, depending on the circumstances – for example:

• doing quiet work, such as painting in the evening
• ensuring worker safety and avoiding major disruptions, such as doing roadworks at night.

A later Saturday finishing time may be acceptable for sites with a 9 am start. Local councils can manage decisions on these issues.