Commercial and industrial noise can impact local communities, especially when it disturbs people's sleep at night. You must make sure your business doesn't cause annoying, distracting or harmful noise.

Commercial and industrial noise includes noise from:

EPA gives guidance to help prevent noise pollution. We investigate noise complaints and set noise restrictions and regulations that businesses must follow.

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 vs 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.

The guidance series is in 4 parts:

Unreasonable noise guidelines

These guidelines explain the concept of unreasonable noise. This includes 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.

Commerce, industry, and trade 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 3) apply to noise from commercial, industrial and trade premises. For information visit, Commerce, industry and trade 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 venues and outdoor entertainment events 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.

Read next

Noise legislation and regulations

Prohibited times for residential noise

About noise

Noise advice for businesses

Changes to noise regulation during coronavirus

Reviewed 8 May 2023