Noise complaints

• Construction work is permitted to occur on building sites between the hours of 7am to 7pm on any day except Sundays and public holidays, without the need to comply with the Regulations assigned levels.
• In rare instances, construction noise work may be permitted to occur outside of these times if a Noise Management Plan has been approved by the City.
• For construction noise related to infrastructure upgrades, repairs, or maintenance, the City will follow the instructions of the relevant State Government agency and may not be able to take direct action. Any concerns submitted will be forwarded to the responsible agency for action.

Noise complaints for equipment used on residential premises:

• Any equipment requiring the constant presence of an operator is classified as specified equipment, this includes equipment such as power tools and lawn mowers.
• Specified equipment must still be used in a reasonable manner and is not permitted to be used for longer than 2 hours per day.
• Noise from specified equipment is permitted to be used during the hours of 7am – 7pm, Mondays to Saturdays and 9am – 7pm, Sundays and public holidays.
• Musical Instruments – one non-amplified musical instrument may be used for 1 hour a day.

• For stereo use, it is recommended that the volume be at a level that cannot be heard at the property boundary.
• Keep the bass component of your stereo to a minimum.
• Please note that fines can be issued if complaints are justified about regular noise emissions.

Please note:

• noise concerns relating to party and/or anti-social behaviour must be reported to the Police for investigation as they are best equipped to deal with after-hours noise and gatherings.
• stereo noise occurring during office hours that is not associated with a party can be investigated by the City.

Hosting a party?

If you are planning a party, please follow these guidelines to maintain good relations with your neighbours:

• turn the music down at 10pm and off at midnight
• monitor the noise at the boundary during the party and try and place amplified music inside rather than having it outside. Ask everyone to move inside the house after midnight

For example - air conditioners and swimming pool pumps:

• if a neighbour has mechanical equipment that has started to sound louder than usual or there's a change in times of operation, you're encouraged to speak to your neighbour first as they may not be aware of the changes.
• servicing/maintenance of existing equipment may resolve the matter, or negotiating the times of operation for pumps may be an easier and quicker way to come to a resolution with your neighbour
• see tips on talking with neighbours here

WA Police have the power to silence audible alarms if it has been causing unreasonable noise for at least 30 minutes on a regular basis (associated with false alarms). Find out more about unreasonable noise from security alarms.

The City does not have the legal power to disable an alarm, and can only assist the Police by notifying the owner of the property regarding the concern. 

• Roosters can only be kept in rural, special rural or special residential / kennel zones.
• If the nature of the issue is roosters noise, please proceed below.
• If the issue is roosters being kept on properties that are not rural, special rural or special residential / kennel zones, then please refer to Keeping of Pigeons, Poultry and Other Animals.

• Essential services incorporate a range of services including road and verge cleaning and repair and primarily waste collection services.
• The provision of these services is essential in keeping the health and amenity of our City at the highest standard possible.
• Whilst the majority of these activities occur during the day, on some occasions these services have to occur prior to 7am, or into the evening.
• The City is very mindful of the potential intrusion this may have on residents and as such, ensure that these activities only occur under strict controls.

To report barking dogs, please refer to the Nuisance Animals page.

• Traffic noise is handled by Main Roads WA (138 138) for vehicles or Department of Transport (6551 6000) for trains.
• Vehicle noise complaints such as starting vehicles, exhaust/engine noise and closing car doors do not fall under Noise Regulations and therefore cannot be enforced by the City. If you are concerned about engine noise being excessively loud, please contact the Police on 131 444 to discuss whether the vehicle has been illegally modified.

• WA Police Service (131 444) are authorised noise officers and are best equipped to attend after hours parties, particularly when the people creating the noise may be under the influence of alcohol or other substances.
• Anti-social behaviour includes yelling and talking/vocal noise. Vocal noise does not fall under the Noise Regulations and therefore cannot be attended to by the City's Health team.
• The Environmental Health team cannot monitor/attend to the comings and goings of persons from a residential premises and the noise associated with this. Should you suspect illegal activities, please refer to the Police on 131 444.

• Please refer to the Perth Airports Municipalities Group and Air Services Australia.
• If you want to lodge a complaint or make an enquiry, please call 1800 802 584 (freecall) or 1300 302 240. The hotline is staffed from 9am ‐ 5pm (AEST), Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.
• You can also email ncis@airservicesaustralia.com or mail PO Box 211, Mascot NSW 1460.

• Under Section 99 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986, the Police have powers to enter any premises when an alarm has been sounding for 30 minutes or more.
• They can enter the premises and arrange for the alarm to be deactivated. The cost can be recovered from the owner of the house or business.
• Nuisance alarms that are repeatedly sounding can be reported below.