Licence URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode
Please give attribution to: © State of Queensland (Queensland Police Service) 2020
Dialling
down the
volume on
neighbourhood
noise
Handy hints
• If you are planning an activity that may produce
excessive noise, speak to your neighbours
and let them know in advance. Be courteous
and ensure noise is only generated within
appropriate hours
• Give neighbours your contact details so that they
can contact you directly with any concerns
• When playing music, turn down bass or sub
woofers to control noise levels
• Do not perform activities that produce loud
noise at times when your neighbours are most
sensitive, such as early morning or late at night
• Try to keep music at reasonable levels when
playing outdoors or for late-night parties
• Ask guests to be quiet as they are leaving your
home
• Revving vehicles and burnouts on residential
property can also be considered to produce
excessive noise
If a crime is happening now, call
Triple Zero (000).
If not, think Policelink and report online
via the QPS website.
Panel 1: Front CoverPanel 4: Back Cover
We all want to be able to enjoy
our time at home. For some of us,
this may include activities that
cause unwanted noise for our
neighbours, resulting in a noise
complaint.
What is excessive noise?
Excessive noise may be caused
by loud music, motor vehicles,
or even musical instruments.
What is enjoyable to one person,
can be annoying to another.
Any noise may be classied as unreasonable,
especially if it can be heard within a neighbour’s
home.
Noise travels dierently depending on where you
live, the time of day, and the type of residence you
live in.
For example
If a neighbour started playing loud music at
2am and you can hear it inside your home, it
would be considered excessive. However, if
the neighbour plays music at 2pm, it may be
considered reasonable. It could still be considered
unreasonable if the music is excessively loud or
continues for an extended period.
Making a noise complaint
Before making a complaint to police, try talking
to your neighbours about their excessive noise. In
some cases, they may not be aware that their noise
is disturbing you, and direct communication could
resolve the matter. If the noise is ongoing, a call to
police or your local council may be appropriate.
A noise complaint is considered a non-urgent
police matter.
What can police do?
When police are notied of a noise complaint, they
will attend the location to investigate whether the
noise is excessive. If police believe the noise to
be excessive, they can enter a location without a
warrant, and can issue a verbal “Noise Abatement
Direction” (NAD) to immediately stop the noise for a
period of 96 hours.
If police are required to return to the location
within the 96-hour period and they determine the
excessive noise has continued, the relevant person
may be ned
or required to
appear in court.
Police are also
able to remove
noise-producing
property or render
it inoperable.
Panel 3Panel 2
We all want to be able to enjoy
our time at home. For some of us,
this may include activities that
cause unwanted noise for our
neighbours, resulting in a noise
complaint.
What is excessive noise?
Excessive noise may be caused
by loud music, motor vehicles,
or even musical instruments.
What is enjoyable to one person,
can be annoying to another.
Any noise may be classied as unreasonable,
especially if it can be heard within a neighbour’s
home.
Noise travels dierently depending on where you
live, the time of day, and the type of residence you
live in.
For example
If a neighbour started playing loud music at
2am and you can hear it inside your home, it
would be considered excessive. However, if
the neighbour plays music at 2pm, it may be
considered reasonable. It could still be considered
unreasonable if the music is excessively loud or
continues for an extended period.
Making a noise complaint
Before making a complaint to police, try talking
to your neighbours about their excessive noise. In
some cases, they may not be aware that their noise
is disturbing you, and direct communication could
resolve the matter. If the noise is ongoing, a call to
police or your local council may be appropriate.
A noise complaint is considered a non-urgent
police matter.
What can police do?
When police are notied of a noise complaint, they
will attend the location to investigate whether the
noise is excessive. If police believe the noise to
be excessive, they can enter a location without a
warrant, and can issue a verbal “Noise Abatement
Direction” (NAD) to immediately stop the noise for a
period of 96 hours.
If police are required to return to the location
within the 96-hour period and they determine the
excessive noise has continued, the relevant person
may be ned
or required to
appear in court.
Police are also
able to remove
noise-producing
property or render
it inoperable.
Panel 3Panel 2
Licence URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode
Please give attribution to: © State of Queensland (Queensland Police Service) 2020
Dialling
down the
volume on
neighbourhood
noise
Handy hints
• If you are planning an activity that may produce
excessive noise, speak to your neighbours
and let them know in advance. Be courteous
and ensure noise is only generated within
appropriate hours
• Give neighbours your contact details so that they
can contact you directly with any concerns
• When playing music, turn down bass or sub
woofers to control noise levels
• Do not perform activities that produce loud
noise at times when your neighbours are most
sensitive, such as early morning or late at night
• Try to keep music at reasonable levels when
playing outdoors or for late-night parties
• Ask guests to be quiet as they are leaving your
home
• Revving vehicles and burnouts on residential
property can also be considered to produce
excessive noise
If a crime is happening now, call
Triple Zero (000).
If not, think Policelink and report online
via the QPS website.
Panel 1: Front CoverPanel 4: Back Cover
