Making a complaint

Our staff are able to step in when noise being generated by some members of the community is excessive and causing a disturbance to others. Excessive noise is any noise that is under human control and that unreasonably interferes with the peace, comfort and convenience of any person. Complaints we deal with include stereo and party noise, band practices, security alarms and machinery noise.

There is no one set level for noise that is acceptable. The level of noise that is acceptable varies according to location of neighbours, time of day, zone you live/work in, presence of sound barriers and the type of noise. The same noise levels during the day may not be acceptable at night.

How noise is controlled

Under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA), Council has the power to control excessive or unreasonable noise. Our environmental health officers and resource consents compliance officers deal with noise issues, and we also contract services to First Security. All these people are trained noise control officers under the RMA.

Noise from moving vehicles, barking dogs, or within the workplace is not controlled by the excessive noise provisions of the RMA.

Making a complaint

It's important that you call us when the noise is occurring so a trained noise control officer can respond. You can complain about excessive noise at any time of the day or night. 

We don't check reports made online or on Antenno, our mobile app, outside business hours. It's best to phone our call centre so your noise complaint can be dealt with quickly.