Skip to main content
Licenses and regulations
Oro

Noise

Excessive noise is noise that unreasonably interferes with the peace, comfort, and convenience of others.

It might be coming from stereos, musical instruments, alarms, vehicles, or machinery and may occur at any time.

  • Noisy vehicles on the road are covered by the Traffic Regulations 1976. Contact the New Zealand Police.
  • Noise between tenancies with the same landlord is covered by the Residential Tenancies Act. Contact the landlord or the Tenancy Tribunal. 
Man using a power tool

Noise complaint

You can make a noise complaint at any time by phoning 06 759 6060.

If the noise is coming from a neighbour’s property, please speak to your neighbour about it first. If this does not work or you would like a noise control officer to visit, call us on 06 759 6060 (24 hours a day, seven days a week) and report the problem at the time the noise is happening.

A noise control officer will investigate and determine whether the noise is reasonable or excessive. If the noise is excessive, a notice will be issued to reduce the noise. This notice remains in force for up to 72 hours following the issue.

If the noise problem reoccurs after the noise control officer has visited, call us immediately to lodge a further complaint. Make sure you let us know that you have called about the noise before.

If excessive noise is not reduced to a reasonable level straight away or reoccurs within 72 hours of a notice being issued, our noise control officer may enter the premises with a police officer and seize the noise-making equipment or make sure the equipment cannot be used.

An instant fine of $500 for not complying with a notice to reduce excessive noise may also be served. A conviction in court can result in a fine of up to $10,000 and, if the offence is a continuing one, further fines up to $1,000 for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues.

Building or demolition noise

Standards for noise are specified in the District Plan and are measured in accordance with NZS 6803:1984 The measurement and assessment of noise from construction, maintenance and demolition work.

The rules acknowledge that construction is a noisy business - maximum noise levels are higher for construction work than for other activities. Please contact us to find out more about measuring noise levels.

 

Environment area

Time of construction work

Maximum construction noise level *

Time underlying standards

Underlying max noise level*
Residential Monday to Friday: 7am-7pm
Saturday: 10am - 6pm

(At all other times, including all public holidays and Sundays)		 L10 65 dBA

(Meets the underlying standards for the environment area)		 7am-10pm any day
10pm-7am any day		 L10   50 dBA
Lmax n/a
L10   40 dBA
Lmax 70 dBA
Rural (measured at the notional boundary) On any day: 7am-7pm L10 70 dBA 7am-10pm any day
10pm-7am any day		 L10   50 dBA
Lmax n/a
L10   45 dBA
Lmax 70 dBA
Business A, B or C On any day: 7am-7pm L10 70 dBA 7am-10pm any day
10pm-7am any day		 L10   60 dBA
Lmax n/a
L10   60 dBA
Lmax 75 dBA
Business D On any day: 7am-7pm L10 70 dBA 7am-10pm any day
10pm-7am any day		 L10   60 dBA
Lmax n/a
L10   40dBA
Lmax 70dBA
Industrial A, B or C On any day: 7am-7pm L10 70 dBA On any day, at any time L10   60 dBA
Lmax 75 dBA
Industrial D On any day: 7am-7pm L10 70 dBA On any day, at any time L10   65 dBA
No   Lmax
Industrial E On any day: 7am-7pm L10 70 dBA On any day, at any time L10   70 dBA
Lmax 80 dBA
Open space As per the adjoining environment area.
Note: The less restrictive adjoining noise standard applies.

Page last updated: 02:09pm Tue 30 April 2024

Contact us
06 759 6060 enquiries@npdc.govt.nz
Visit us

84 Liardet Street
New Plymouth

Search
Find by A–Z
Navigate
Useful links
Our NPDC family
New Zealand Government logo