Managing noise and disturbances from licensed venues
This page explains what licensed venues should do to reduce noise and avoid disturbing the local community. It gives practical tips on handling complaints, lowering noise, talking with neighbours, and using best practices to stop problems from getting worse.
Venue owners are responsible for making sure their business doesn’t cause problems for people living or working nearby. They should keep noise and disruption low to protect the peace of the neighbourhood.
If a venue causes issues, the community can report it. L&G NSW has the power to deal with noise complaints and act if needed.
Handling complaints in the right way is important. It helps you build good relationships with your neighbours and customers. Complaints can also give you helpful ideas to make your venue better.
Steps to resolve any issues
Here are some steps to help resolve noise and disturbance issues early, which can prevent complaints from escalating into formal processes or mediation.
Ensure your venue remains a good neighbour by providing clear communication channels for local residents.
Here's how to address noise complaints and disturbance concerns effectively:
- designate a staff member to talk to residents about their complaints
- respond quickly to concerns and explain the steps you’ve taken
- keep a register of all noise complaints
- set up a dedicated phone number or email hotline for inquiries
- display clear contact info about your complaint process in your venue or on your website
- host community meetings to discuss concerns and build better relationships with locals.
Here's how you can be proactive:
- join your local liquor accord to help create solutions and strategies to reduce disturbances and anti-social behaviour in your area
- address anti-social behaviour by managing patrons leaving your venue and making sure they don’t hang around nearby once your venue is closed
- review your venue's building design to find ways to reduce the chance of noise complaints from residents in the future
- understand and follow any noise-related conditions on your liquor licence
- create a noise management plan and make sure your staff are trained on noise control measures, including how music should be played at your venue
- know the sound management rules if your venue is in a Special Entertainment Precinct, as set by your local council.
Industry groups like Clubs NSW, Australian Hotels Association NSW, and Restaurant & Catering NSW can help licensed venues set up effective ways to handle customer complaints.
You can also look at the Australian/New Zealand Standard (AS/NZS 10002:2022), which explains what good complaints handling looks like.
For tips on how to reduce noise from things like music, entertainment, and patrons, check out the Sound Management – Guidance for Venue Operators. It offers practical advice and best practices for managing sound at your venue.
Noise from your venue – like loud music, how people act, and how they arrive or leave – can affect your neighbours and hurt your venue’s reputation.
Making small changes can really help reduce noise in the area:
- check noise levels inside and outside your venue often
- turn down the volume on speakers or the PA system
- keep windows and doors closed near homes
- set up speakers, instruments, and the stage away from weak spots like windows and doors
- you can also hire a sound expert (an acoustic engineer) to test how much noise your venue makes.
These small changes help reduce noise and keep the community onside.
Let your neighbours know there's information for them at L&G NSW.
It’s important that local residents and businesses understand how they can deal with noise or disturbance issues. The easiest and most direct way is often to contact the venue first.
Make an effort to speak with your neighbours and sort out any issues together.
Good, open communication can help solve problems quickly and calmly and build better relationships with the community.