Ongoing residential noise problems
Ongoing excessive noise issues can be difficult to prevent.
Residential noise complaints - such as those involving people, parties and music - need to be lodged as and when noise occurs. Action can only be taken when the noise is happening.
We use the Resource Management Act 1991 Section 16 to enforce excessive noise, which requires an officer to assess the noise before taking action.
If the noise is assessed as excessive, the Act allows the noise control officer to issue an Excessive Noise Direction (END) notice, which requires excessive noise to stop for up to 72 hours.
Further excessive noise within the 72 hours can be subject to enforcement action, including a $500 fine or seizure of the noise making equipment with police assistance.
After the 72 hours has elapsed, a new noise complaint will need to be made and, if found excessive again, a new END notice needs to be served.
Further incidences of excessive noise need to be reported as they occur and be re-assessed. In each instance, you need to call us on 09 301 0101 so an officer can be dispatched to assess the noise.
If you have made complaints and the noise is still audible
- If they are approachable, try talking to your neighbour. Often noise issues can be solved with a friendly chat.
- If it is a tenanted property, talk to the landlord or property manager. Under the Residential Tenancies Act, a landlord can issue a 14-day notice for tenants that cause disturbance to the neighbourhood.
- If the noise originates from the back of a property, down a driveway, or somewhere where the noise is screened or reflected, our noise control officer may not have heard it from the road. We need an accurate description of the noise source.
Ongoing industrial, commercial or mechanical noise problems
Unreasonable noise from industrial, commercial or mechanical sources are generally at a lower decibel level, but more continual than residential party or music noise.
Examples include:
- a loud bar or nightclub
- construction noise
- a factory or industrial noise
- heat pumps, pool pumps or ventilation fans.
Calibrated sound level meters are used to measure such noises. If found to be unreasonable, the person responsible will be asked to correct the situation. If not remedied, abatement notices can be served and enforcement action taken. This includes infringement fines or possible prosecution.
We assess it under the rules of the Auckland Unitary Plan (PDF 462KB).
In order to best assess the noise, multiple visits may be needed to correctly measure it. Depending on the nature of the noise, a control officer may need to make an appointment to measure the noise from your property.
