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Make a complaint

Flowchart showing noise procedure. Bothered by 
noise? Phone Auckland City Council on 379 2020. A noise control officer will investigate. If noise is excessive, a notice is issued 
prohibiting excessive noise for up to 72 hours. If noise continues equipment may be siezed.If you wish to make a complaint about noise you can call us at any time of the day or night, but it is important to phone when the noise is occurring so action can be taken. You can contact us on (09) 379 2020.

When you contact us a Noise Control Officer is sent out to investigate. They determine whether the noise is reasonable and within permissible levels. It may be necessary to use monitoring equipment to determine if the noise is excessive.

If the noise is deemed to be excessive, they may serve a written direction to reduce the noise, which is enforced for up to 72 hours. Failure to obey the notice can result in equipment seizure or a fine of up to $10,000.

The noise maker is not told who has complained.

If you are the noise maker and you feel the complaint is unjustified, contact us to discuss your concerns.
 

What is excessive noise?

Excessive noise is any noise that is under human control and of such a nature as to unreasonably interfere with the peace, comfort and convenience of any person.

Examples of excessive noise may include a loud party, stereo, band practices, audible alarm or machinery.

  • there is no one set level for noise that is acceptable
  • the level of noise that is acceptable varies according to the location of your 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.
     

Ongoing noise problems

Further investigation or action may be required to deal effectively with some noise sources, such as noise from industrial or commercial sites. 

If the problem is of a technical nature an Environmental Health Officer may need to use noise monitoring equipment. In this case, time is required to fully investigate the noise and bring the issue to a conclusion.
 

Auckland City Council's responsibility

Auckland City Council has the power under the Resource Management Act 1991 to control excessive or unreasonable noise. All officers who deal with noise complaints are trained and warranted under the Resource Management Act.

Noise from moving vehicles such as aircrafts, boats, trains and cars are not under our control.

Updated January 2010

Copyright © 2010 Auckland City Council. All rights reserved.