​Noise

Barking dogs, loud music and car alarms are common things that neighbours may have disagreements about. If you have a dispute with your neighbour about noise, there are different steps that you can take to deal with noise issues.

This topic has information about:

 This topic focuses on noise made by neighbours and not noise made by traffic, airlines, factories, building sites and licenced premises. For more information, see the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) website.

Noise restrictions

Noise can be offensive or a nuisance. Some noises are prohibited during certain hours of the day. If a complaint is about noise the police or local council may deal with the problem.

For more information, see Noise restrictions.

Talking to your neighbour

If you have a dispute with your neighbour about noise, you should consider talking to them to help resolve the problem. Talking about the issue may avoid the problem getting worse or even going to court.

This section covers:

• how to talk to your neighbour
• mediation.
  

For more information, see Talking to your neighbour.

Making a noise complaint

If you can't come to an agreement with your neighbour about the noise, you can make a formal complaint to the police or your local council.

If you live in strata premises you can also complain to the owners corporation, managing agent or building manager.

If your neighbour is a tenant you can also complain to their landlord.

This section covers:

• complaining to police
• complaining to council
• complaining to the owners corporation (strata)
• complaining to the landlord.
  

For more information, see Making a noise complaint.

Applying for a noise order

If you have a noise problem, have made complaints, and the noise is still occurring, you may make an application for a noise abatement order through the Local Court. This is an order from the court telling your neighbour to stop or change the noise. It is an offence to breach (break) a noise abatement order.

This section covers:

• noise abatement orders
• applying for a noise abatement order
• the mention
• preparing for the hearing
• going to the hearing
• after the hearing.  
  

For more information, see Applying for a noise order.

Responding to a noise complaint

If your neighbour is complaining about noise from your home the first step is to try to talk to your neighbour about the problem.

If your neighbour has made a complaint about noise, you may have been given a warning, a direction or a notice to stop or reduce the noise.

If you live in a strata block, you may get a complaint from the owners corporation, the managing agent or the building manager. If you are a tenant, you may get a complaint from your landlord or the real estate agent.

Your neighbour may have also made an application to the Local Court for a noise abatement order.

This section covers:

• responding to a warning
• breaching noise restrictions
• responding to a noise abatement direction
• responding to a nuisance order
• responding to a prevention notice
• responding to a noise control notice
• noise complaints in strata
• noise complaints about tenants.
  

For more information, see Responding to a noise complaint.

Responding to a noise order

If your neighbour has complained about noise from your home and the noise is still occurring, your neighbour may make an application for a noise abatement order through the Local Court. This is an order from the court telling you to stop or change the noise. It is an offence to breach (break) a noise abatement order.

This section covers:

• noise abatement orders
• the mention
  
• preparing for the hearing
• going to the hearing
• after the hearing.  
  

For more information, see Responding to a noise order.

Who's who in court

When you have to go to court, it helps to know what to expect. In this section, you can see what a typical courtroom looks like, who the different people are in the court and where you should sit.

For more information, see Who's who in court.

Forms

This section has instructions and sample forms as well as sample letters and notices.

For more information, see Forms.

Frequently Asked Questions

This section has answers to common questions that you may have when dealing with a noise related problem.

For more information, see Frequently Asked Questions.

COVID-19 Update

If you need to file documents with the Court, Tribunal or Commission, you should contact them directly to see what options are available to you. You may be required to file the documents online, by post or in-person. 

If you need to appear at the Court, Tribunal or Commission, you should contact them directly to see what options are available to you. You may be required to appear in person, by phone or Audio Visual Link (AVL).

For more information, see COVID-19 (coronavirus) on the New South Wales Local Court website.

Further information

EPA - Dealing with noise

EPA - Noise guide for local government

State Library NSW - Neighbours and the law

Community Justice Centre - Neighbours

Law Society NSW - Problems with neighbours