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Noise
Lodge a noise complaint with Council.
Council can assist with noise complaints about residential premises (including barking dogs) or noise from local businesses. Council is unable to investigate certain types of noise complaints. Read below for the different types of noise issues and how to report them.
Unreasonable noise
Property owners and tenants are responsible for making sure activities on their property don't have a negative impact on their neighbours.
For information on what is considered unreasonable noise, refer to the Annoyed by Noise brochure (PDF).
Further information can also be found in the Environment Protection Act 2017 (PDF) and the Environment Protection Regulations 2021 (PDF).
The regulation of noise across Victoria and the responsible authorities is complex in nature and it can be difficult to know where to start. Read information below to see where to report noise.
Ongoing unreasonable residential property noise
Examples
- garden tools
- pool and water pump equipment
- heating and cooling
- music and musical instruments
- banging and impacting power tools
- vehicle noise (e.g. unnecessary revving, repairs)
Prohibited time frames
Visit EPA website to see prohibited times for residential noise
Lodge a complaint with council
You must attach a Noise log (PDF) when reporting ongoing residential noise.
To assist our investigation Council requires visual footage that is clearly time and date stamped.
Report to Victoria Police
If the event is after hours and is only happening once or a few times (e.g. a party or if the noise relates to criminal or anti-social activity) you can report it to Victoria Police
Demolition and construction noise
Examples
- house or unit construction
Time frames
New build, from the ground up or an extension requiring a building or planning permit:
- Monday to Friday 7am to 6pm
- Saturday 9am to 3pm
- Sundays & public holidays - no works at all.
Home improvements that do not require a building or planning permit:
- Monday to Friday 7am to 8pm
- Weekends and public holidays 9am to 8pm.
Lodge a complaint with council
Need help making a complaint with Council?
If you require support to make a complaint, please contact us during business hours via telephone on 9243 8888, email council@mvcc.vic.gov.au or in-person at the Civic Centre, 9 Kellaway Avenue, Moonee Ponds.
Commercial noise pollution
Examples
- restaurants
- gyms
- supermarkets
- nightclubs
- pubs, clubs and bars
- commercial construction
Timeframes
Non-residential timeframes are dependent on planning permit conditions.
Lodge a complaint with council
Report to EPA
Call EPA’s 24-hour Pollution Hotline on 1300 EPA VIC (1300 372 842) to report noise pollution from industrial large commercial premises.
Report to Victoria Police
If the incident occurs after hours, report it to Victoria Police
Lodge a noise complaint with Council
We suggest you speak to the person causing the noise first. Often people don’t realise they are disturbing their neighbours and the issue can often be resolved quickly. If this does not work, you can lodge your concerns with Council.
Council can assist with noise complaints about residential premises (including barking dogs) or noise from local businesses.
Before you lodge a complaint
A noise log is a legal document and all information provided may be used as evidence in the Magistrates Court, should Council decide to prosecute.
By signing and returning the noise log you are declaring the information contained within it to be a true record of matters observed by you and that you are willing to appear in Court to give evidence as a witness regarding this complaint if required to do so by Council.
You must attach a completed Noise log (PDF) when reporting ongoing unreasonable residential property noise.
In order for Council to take formal enforcement action, sufficient evidence is required. Typically Council requires visual footage that is clearly time and date stamped.
This evidence is necessary should the matter progress to the Magistrates Court, as Council must be able to substantiate both the enforcement action taken and any associated penalties.
Report a barking dog
If your neighbour's dog is barking excessively, you can lodge a complaint with us.
Visit our pets and animals page to learn more and lodge a complaint online.
Noise issues Council cannot investigate
While we can help with some noise complaints, Council is not the authority for most noise complaints. Below is a list of some common noise issues, and who you can contact for help.
Modified vehicle exhausts
Council is not the responsible authority for modified vehicles and aftermarket add-ons. The EPA and Police are the responsible authority.
The Environmental Protection (EP) Act also applies to motor vehicles on residential premises, for example, a car left idling for a time or at a volume that could be considered unreasonable. The prohibited times in the EP Regulations do not apply to vehicles when they’re entering or leaving a property, but extended idling or warm-up of vehicles is not allowed during the prohibited times.
You can report noise from:
- 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
Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria – 1300 372 888
Local Police Stations:
- Moonee Ponds – (03) 9373 5200
- Avondale Heights – (03) 9337 6777
- Flemington – (03) 9371 6100
- Police without the sirens – 13 14 44
- Police in an emergency – 000
Local Police Stations:
- Moonee Ponds – (03) 9373 5200
- Avondale Heights – (03) 9337 6777
- Flemington – (03) 9371 6100
- Police without the sirens – 13 14 44
- Police in an emergency – 000
Body Corporate
Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria – 1300 372 888
Primary - Metro – 1800 800 007
Secondary – Public Transport Ombudsman – 1800 466 865
Primary - Yarra Trams – 1800 800 007
Secondary – Public Transport Ombudsman – 1800 466 865
Air Services Australia - 1800 802 584
Civil Aviation & Safety Authority - 13 17 57
Jemena (Power) – 1300 131 871
City West Water (Water) – 13 26 42
Vic Roads – 13 11 71
Issue
Report to
Flemington Racecourse and Melbourne Showgrounds
Vehicles entering or leaving a property
Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria – 1300 372 888
Local Police Stations:
- Moonee Ponds – (03) 9373 5200
- Avondale Heights – (03) 9337 6777
- Flemington – (03) 9371 6100
- Police without the sirens – 13 14 44
- Police in an emergency – 000
People noise including foul language, screaming, yelling, slamming doors, loitering and domestic disputes
Local Police Stations:
- Moonee Ponds – (03) 9373 5200
- Avondale Heights – (03) 9337 6777
- Flemington – (03) 9371 6100
- Police without the sirens – 13 14 44
- Police in an emergency – 000
Domestic activities such as footsteps, talking, laughing, flushing toilets, smoking on private property, ball sports and children playing
Body Corporate
Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria – 1300 372 888
Planned or emergency works that are required to be conducted out of hours due to likely disruption to traffic, public transport or utilities
Train track maintenance
Primary - Metro – 1800 800 007
Secondary – Public Transport Ombudsman – 1800 466 865
Tram track maintenance
Primary - Yarra Trams – 1800 800 007
Secondary – Public Transport Ombudsman – 1800 466 865
Aircraft noise
Air Services Australia - 1800 802 584
Civil Aviation & Safety Authority - 13 17 57
Emergency utility works
Jemena (Power) – 1300 131 871
City West Water (Water) – 13 26 42
Emergency road works
Vic Roads – 13 11 71
Drones
CASA – 13 17 57
Report noise with EPA
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria plays an important role in safeguarding the community from unreasonable noise. Find out more information about the different types of noise and how the law controls them on the Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) website.