When you need a permit for this activity
You must get a permission from us to conduct certain activities that have risk of harm to human health and the environment. These are called prescribed activities and are defined in Schedule 1 of the Environment Protection Regulations 2021.
Under the Regulations, you need an L06 – Conducting more than 6 outdoor concerts permit to manage music noise when more than 6 concerts will be held at one location in a financial year.
The L06 permit is for people or businesses that wants to hold a concert at a location where 6 or more concerts have already been held in a financial year.
A concert is defined in the Environment Protection Regulations 2021 as:
an operation at an outdoor entertainment venue or an outdoor entertainment event if the effective noise level exceeds 55dBA (or 45dBA if measured indoors) assessed as an LAeq* of 15 cumulative minutes at any measurement point in a noise-sensitive area at least once during a 24-hour period.
*LAeq is Equivalent Continuous Sound Pressure Level.
If you're unsure whether your event will be a ‘concert’ one way of predicting this is if you plan to play music at or above 95 dBA within 15 meters of the front of the speakers. This is the noise level which professional music events typically aim to meet audience expectations. It may be used as an initial screening threshold to identify potential impact to nearby residences. For more information, visit Music noise from entertainment venues and events.
An L05 permit can cover multiple operations (events) or concerts. If you need both an L05 and L06 permit, you must apply for each permit separately.
Other noise emissions from outdoor entertainment venues and events are subject to the requirements that apply to commercial, industrial and trade premises. For example, noise from mechanical plant or refrigeration systems and kitchens. These are defined in Part 5.3 of Division 3 of the Regulations. Learn more about Commercial, industrial and trade noise.
Approvals from other regulators or authorities
Local councils may issue planning permits for land use in relation to these venues and events. This may include specific conditions about managing noise emissions. Local councils may also issue a Places of Public Entertainment permit for sites that are regularly used for events. We recommend you contact the relevant local council to get advice about their by-laws.
You may also need to apply for a permit from a public land manager, such as Parks Victoria. They issue permits for activities conducted on land they manage. For example, festivals or concerts. For more information, see the Parks and reserves event permit application guidelines on the Parks Victoria website.
Noise from patrons at entertainment venues is only subject to noise limits when it's associated with the music sources. For example:
- DJ announcements
- patrons singing along with the music.
Patron noise also needs to be managed as part of planning permits and liquor licences and in any other relevant guidelines.
It's also best practice to consult with the neighbours and/or the local community before applying for an L06 permit.
Exemptions
Under some circumstances, you can apply for a permit exemption.
To find out if you can apply for an exemption, contact us.
Related activities
If you want to operate an outdoor entertainment venue or outdoor entertainment event operating outside of standard operating hours, or a concert exceeding 8 hours, you need an L05 – Operations outside of hours or extended operations permit.
Information to include in your application
When you submit your application in the portal, it must include certain information and supporting evidence. To learn more, visit Apply for a development licence or Apply for an operating licence.
If you're unsure of the type of permission you need, use our free permission pathway process before you start your application.
To apply, you also need to provide:
- information about your event
- a noise management plan.
| Information to provide | Includes |
| applicant details | the details of the person or company responsible for the venue or event, including contact details such as telephone, email, address and ACN |
| details of the event or venue |
|
| consultation and engagement details |
|
| previous event details (if applicable) |
|
Noise management plan
A noise management plan (NMP) is a document that describes how you'll manage noise emitted from the venue or event.
Your plan must show us how you'll ensure any music noise will not be louder than the noise limit of 65dBA within a noise sensitive area. This is the prescribed noise limit for outdoor entertainment venues and events under subregulation (91)(a) of the Noise limit and assessment protocol for the control of noise from commercial, industrial and trade premises and entertainment venues.
The noise limit applies when measured outdoors at a noise-sensitive area. For example, a residential area, hospital or tourist accommodation.
We need your NMP to help us assess the risk of harm to human health and the environment. It should contain:
- the name of the person or company responsible for the venue or event
- the type of entertainment and a schedule of the acts
- the dimensions and orientation of the stage
- the location of the audience
- the sound levels at the stage, front of house and the source or mixing desk and how you will monitor these
- the layout of the venue, including where the noise will be emitted from
- the location of the event, including the premises boundary, the location of noise-sensitive areas in a 5 km radius, and any relevant geographic and topographic features of the area, such as hills, water bodies or access roads
- how you will control noise levels to ensure the relevant noise limits are not exceeded – for example, the type, arrangement, location, height and direction of loudspeakers, noise barriers and other containment measures
- predicted noise levels at the nearest noise-sensitive areas, including details of your key assumptions and calculation procedures
- how noise at noise-sensitive areas will be assessed
- what equipment you will use to monitor noise and who will be responsible for monitoring noise
- your plan for engagement with the surrounding community, including notifications and agreements you may have made with them
- your complaints handling procedure, including the name and phone number of the contact person for the event.
An acoustic consultant can model how the sound will diminish over the distance between the speakers and the nearest noise-sensitive area. Alternatively, refer to Measure and analyse industry noise and music noise. This guide discusses noise calculation algorithms for predicting music noise levels.
If the configuration of your venue or event is relatively simple, you can use simplified calculations to approximate the expected noise levels. Be aware, however, this usually does not account for effects that can affect the propagation of sound. For example:
- direction the loudspeakers are facing
- sound reflections off walls
- influence of atmospheric conditions, such as wind or temperature inversions.
Application fee
For a list of current fees and how they're calculated, visit Fees. An extra fee may apply if we need more time than specified in the Regulations to assess your application.
If an application fee applies, we cannot assess your application until we've received and processed this fee.
In some circumstances we may reduce or waive this fee.
How long your permit is valid for
The permit is usually valid for the duration of the concerts – that is, from date A to date B.
How we assess your application
Find out how we assess your application and how long it takes.
Under regulation 28(g), we must consider:
- the number of concerts in that location in the previous year.
- any complaints that we received about concerts in that location in the previous year that we consider relevant
- the effective noise levels at concerts in that location in the previous year that we consider relevant
- any action you intend to take to control noise emissions and to minimise their impacts
Generally, the most recent concerts will be considered relevant to your application, unless it was substantially different in nature or setting.
Permit conditions
Permission conditions outline the legal obligations for the permission holder. They set up a framework for risk management, record keeping and reporting.
Where a condition includes:
- the word 'placeholder', values will be populated with information that's specific to your site
- a reference to a 'figure' or 'appendix', information will be populated that's specific to your site.
'Authority' means Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
Other conditions may apply.
| Condition code | Description |
| PER_G01 | A copy of this permit must be kept at the activity site and be easily accessible to persons who are engaging in an activity conducted at the activity site. Information regarding the requirements of the permit and the Act duties must be included in site induction and training information. |
| PER_G02 | You must immediately notify the Authority by calling 1300 EPA VIC (1300 372 842) in the event of: a) A discharge, emission or deposit which gives rise to, or may give rise to, actual or potential harm to human health or the environment; b) A malfunction, breakdown or failure of risk control measures at the site which could reasonably be expected to give rise to actual or potential harm to human health or the environment; or c) Any breach of the permit. |
| PER_G03 | You must notify the Authority within 48 hours of the occurrence of any the following: (a) Any change to your name or address (including your registered address and site as applicable); or (b) A change to an officer (as defined in the Act). |
| PER_N01 | A sound check for each stage must be performed prior to the event/concert. During the sound check, music levels must be set at each stage to ensure that no aggravated noise or unreasonable noise is generated. |
| PER_N02 | Sound systems at the activity site must have a limiter/compressor installed for all stages. |
| PER_N03 | Speakers at outdoor stages must be placed and positioned in a manner which minimises sound travelling beyond the event area. |
| PER_N04 | A complaints hotline must be established and operated for the duration of the event. A suitably qualified person must investigate any complaints. The results of the investigation and the action taken must be recorded and reported to the complainant. |
| PER_N05.01 | You must send a notice to residents located within [placeholder1], the Council and the Authority at least 14 days prior to the event. The notice must include the following information: a) The event's complaints hotline number; b) The date(s) and times the event will be operating; and c) The location of the event; and d) The approximate date(s) and times of the sound check/s. |
| PER_N06 | A suitably qualified acoustical consultant must monitor [placeholder1] and any additional locations that may become necessary based on any current or previous complaints encountered. |
| PER_N07 | The suitably qualified person must be able to directly contact the production manager, sound engineers, event organiser and any hotline staff throughout the event. |
| PER_N08 | Procedures must be in place to allow for an immediate reduction of the music levels of all stages if required. The production manager (or equivalent) must ensure that sound engineers (or equivalent) reduce music levels when instructed. |
| PER_N09 | 1. You must complete a report with details regarding complaints received and monitoring completed during the event. 2. The report must include: a) date and time of all complaints; b) the investigations that resulted and any outcomes of the investigations; c) any actions taken as a result of the complaints; and d) all monitoring completed during the event. 3. This report must be sent to the Authority at permissions@epa.vic.gov.au and the Council within 30 days of the event. |
| PER_N10 (specific) | Noise loggers must be installed at [placeholder1]. |
| PER_N11 (specific) | Noise measurements must be taken [placeholder1] from [placeholder2] at [placeholder3], and at any locations which have been the subject of previous complaints. |
| PER_N12 (specific) | This permit is valid for the approved concert or event dates and/or operating times specified as follows: A) [placeholder1] B) [placeholder2] C) [placeholder3] D) [placeholder4] E) [placeholder5] F) [placeholder6] G) [placeholder7] H) [placeholder8] I) [placeholder9] J) [placeholder10] |
Manage your permit
To amend, transfer or surrender your permit, visit Manage your permission.
Updated