Where to report noise
There are laws around noise pollution. These laws determine what noise is unreasonable, when and where.
Different agencies have different roles in responding to noise reports. We do our best to help. This can mean referring you to another authority that's better suited to handle your noise report.
Residential noise and residential construction noise
Examples:
- air conditioners
- pool pumps
- house parties
- stereo systems
- residential construction and demolition activities.
Who you can report to:
- your local council
- the police if you need a response after hours.
Learn about the law and residential noise.
Commercial or industrial noise
Examples:
- restaurants
- gyms
- supermarkets
- manufacturing
- utilities
- commercial construction.
Who you can report to:
- us, or
- your local council.
Learn more about the law and commercial, industrial and trade noise.
Report noise from commercial construction and demolition sites to us. Depending on what is being constructed, there are different working hours and requirements for managing construction noise. Learn about the law and construction noise.
Music noise from entertainment venues and events
Examples:
- theatres and concert halls
- sporting events
- stadiums and festival grounds
- pubs, clubs and bars.
Who you can report to:
- us, or
- police for an urgent response at night or outside normal working hours
- your local council
- Liquor Control Victoria for noise related to licensed premises, such as pubs, clubs and bars.
Learn more about the law and music noise from entertainment venues and events.
Major projects and state government activities noise
Examples:
- major infrastructure projects – for example, major road projects
- state government managed land use – for example, public schools or prisons
- noise from wind turbines.
Construction noise requirements are usually part of a project’s approval conditions. The infrastructure project builder will have contractual obligations to manage noise and vibration.
Who you can report to:
- us, or
- Victoria’s Big Build for major infrastructure projects, such as North East Link Project, the Metro Tunnel Project and the West Gate Tunnel Project.
Learn more about our role in major infrastructure projects.
Roadworks noise
Report roadworks noise to the responsible authority. For example:
- arterial roads and public freeways – contact VicRoads
- local roads – contact your local council
- major road projects, including road upgrades – contact Victoria's Big Build.
Learn more about road types and responsible authorities at Transport Victoria.
Vehicle noise
You can report noise from:
- vehicles on private property at certain times of day to your local council
- exhausts of driving cars and motorbikes to the police
- exhausts of large trucks and buses over 4.5 tonnes to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
- road traffic to the Department of Transport and Planning, your local council or the companies that manage the road
- freight trains travelling on rail lines to the Australian Rail Track Corporation.
Public transport noise
Report noise from public transport services to the companies that manage them. Only contact the Public Transport Ombudsman Victoria after you have given public transport companies the chance to respond to your concern.
Report noise from train and tram maintenance to us.
Learn more about the law and transport noise.
Wind turbine noise
Report noise from wind turbines to the wind energy facility operator first. The operator should respond according to their complaints management procedure. If that doesn't resolve the issue, you can report the noise to us.
Noise from construction of wind energy facilities is managed by local councils under planning permit conditions.
If you have questions or complaints about operating or proposed wind farms, contact the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner.
Learn more about the law and wind turbine noise.
How to report noise to us
Before reporting noise, we encourage you to first speak to the people making the noise, if it's appropriate and safe to do so. They may not know the noise is a problem. This may quickly resolve the issue.
You can report noise online, or call our 24-hour pollution hotline on 1300 372 842.
What to include in your report
The more information you can give us, the quicker we can respond. When making your report, tell us:
- what the noise is
- where you think it's coming from
- when the noise started
- where you can hear the noise from – for example, home or work
- how the noise is affecting you
- how often the noise occurs.
You can report anonymously, but if you do we cannot send you updates about your report. We also cannot contact you if we need more information.
What happens next
After you have made a report, we send you a confirmation email with a reference number.
We review your report to assess the risk to human health and the environment. We review new reports 7 days a week.
If we confirm it's a high-risk incident with significant impact on the community or environment – for example, a tyre fire or a major chemical spill – we take action quickly. Due to the volume of reports we receive, low-risk reports can take longer to action.
We update you on the progress of your report and what action we plan to take.
Impacts of noise pollution
Noise can be annoying or disturbing. If noise continues for a long time or is too loud, it can impact your health and wellbeing.
Victorian residents and business must make sure that any noise from their activities or premises does not impact the local community.
Learn more about noise pollution and how to manage it.
Updated