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You may require a permit for music noise emitted from your:
- outdoor entertainment venue
- outdoor entertainment event.
This applies to:
- businesses who want to hold public outdoor music events, like concerts
- people in the community who want to hold public outdoor events such as local community festivals, where music is part of the event.
- businesses and people in the community who want to extend an event or concert beyond the standard operating hours, or to operate more than six concerts in a financial year.
Outdoor entertainment venues
We need to approve your event at an outdoor entertainment venue if:
- you plan to hold an event outside of standard operating hours of 12 pm–11 pm
- you plan to hold an event with a duration of more than 8 hours
- you plan to hold more than six concerts at the same location in a financial year.
A concert is an event louder than 55dB(A) in a 24-hour period when measured outdoors at a residence or other nearby sensitive area.
Outdoor entertainment events
- you plan to hold a concert for more than 8 hours
- you plan to hold more than six concerts at the same location in a financial year
- you plan to hold a concert on:
- Monday to Saturday – between 7 am and 12 noon
- Sunday or a public holiday – between 9 am and 12 noon.
- you plan to hold an event outside the standard operating hours.
The standard operating hours are:
- Monday to Saturday - from 7 am to 11 pm
- Sunday and public holidays – from 9 am to 11 pm.
A concert is an event louder than 55dB(A) in a 24-hour period when measured outdoors at a residence or other nearby sensitive area.
Some events may need other planning or event permits from your local council.
How to apply
If you’ve prepared your permit application, submit it online through the EPA portal.
Apply for an EPA permit at least 45 days before your event.
If it's your first time using our online permit application, Permitting application requirements for outdoor entertainment venues and events (publication 2025) will help you prepare your application and apply online.
Application fee
You must pay a fee of 48ꞏ47 fee units ($728.50 up to 30 June 2022) when you apply for a permit for:
- an event outside the hours of operation
- an event with extended hours of operation
- conducting more than six concerts at the same location in a financial year.
Information regarding fee units can be found at Department of Treasury and Finance.
More information regarding the application fee can be found in regulation 195 of the Environment Protection Regulations 2021.
Preparing your event permit application
You will need to tell us about:
- your event
- a noise management plan – how you’ll manage noise emitted from the venue or event
Your noise management plan must show us that any concerts won’t be louder than the noise limit of 65dBA. The limit applies when measured outdoors at a noise sensitive area, such as a residential area, hospital or tourist accommodation.
You will be required to provide a Close Out Report at the completion of your event.
If your event has significant public interest, you should give us evidence to show the significant cultural value, widespread recognition of the contribution to the character of the location, or significant economic and employment outcomes for the local community.
How EPA reviews your application
In assessing your application, we will consider:
- the effective noise levels in any previous operations engaged in by the applicant (if applicable); and
- the history of complaints received by EPA or a council in relation to previous operations engaged in by the applicant (if any); and
- any action the applicant intends to take to control noise emissions and to minimise their impacts; and
- whether it is in the public interest to grant the permit.
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Reviewed 7 December 2021
