Music noise from entertainment venues and events

Learn about the impact of music noise, how we regulate it and what you can do to manage it.

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Music noise from indoor and outdoor entertainment venues and events can include:

  • live or recorded music
  • voices, including audience singing or DJ announcements
  • other amplified sounds and sound effects that happen with music.

Music noise from indoor and outdoor entertainment venues and events does not include residential noise – for example:

  • speakers
  • parties
  • musical instruments.

Music noise and the law

The general environmental duty and the unreasonable noise duty apply to managing music noise from entertainment venues and events.

Music noise from entertainment venues and events must not be unreasonable or exceed noise limits. If noise exceeds the noise limit by a certain amount, it is aggravated noise. Aggravated noise is a serious offence, and significant penalties apply.

To learn more, visit Entertainment venue and outdoor event music noise guidelines.

In some cases, you must get permission to conduct activities related to music noise from entertainment venues and events. Our permissions focus on activities that may have a significant impact on human health and the environment. Permissions have conditions that must be followed.

Activities related to music noise from entertainment venues and events that need a permission include:

Councils and other agencies may also set requirements for music noise.

Our role in music noise

We co-regulate music noise from entertainment venues and events with:

  • local government
  • police.

Learn more about Who we work with.

We develop guidance to help businesses understand the law and manage music noise. We also develop guidance for:

  • other authorities
  • local government
  • acoustic consultants
  • industry.

For example, our technical guide to measuring and analysing music noise.

We issue permissions and enforce the law to reduce the impact of music noise on human health and the environment.

In some cases, we investigate complaints about music noise from entertainment venues and events. Visit Report noise to learn more.

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.

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