Music noise from entertainment venues and events can have an impact on people nearby. It can be a problem when it disturbs people’s sleep. Ongoing noise can impact your health.

Music noise is music you can hear at a residence or where people live and sleep, schools, and childcare centres. It can include live or recorded music noise coming from a large sports facility or a nightclub. Also, music noise coming from an event on public land.

Some noise from entertainment venues and events doesn’t come under music noise. For example, human voices not associated with the music comes under ‘patron noise’.

Noise from deliveries and mechanical equipment, such as a venue cool room, comes under commercial, industrial and trade noise.

For information about residential noise like stereos and musical instruments, see the residential noise page.

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.

Three parts of the series are relevant to music noise from entertainment venues:

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.

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.