Noise rules on NSW waterways

Offensive noise

You must not make any noise that could offend, disturb or be harmful to someone outside your vessel. This could be noise made by your engine or by people or music on board.

You must not modify the engine noise control equipment on your boat or personal watercraft (PWC).

Noise can be disruptive – not only because of its volume, but also because of the type of noise it is. Always consider how your activities affect other people on the water, on the shore and local residents.

Even a relatively quiet vessel may offend others if it's early in the morning or if you stay too long in the same area.

Whether a noise is offensive depends on how a 'reasonable person' would react. To work out whether the noise from your vessel's engine may be offensive, consider:

• character of the noise – for example, tone, impulse (sharp sounds) and fluctuation
• noise quality – for example, whether it could be considered annoying
• volume – how loud it is and whether it's louder than background noise
• the effect the noise has on activities around you
• time of day – noise travels further when it's calm and quiet
• how far you are from the shore
• how many people are nearby
• whether you're near a residential area
• which direction the wind is blowing – noise can travel further with the wind.

In 2023, the NSW Government introduced the Vibrancy Reforms, under the 24-Hour Economy Legislation Amendment (Vibrancy Reforms) Act 2023.

As part of these reforms, Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) regulate entertainment-related noise complaints from liquor licensed premises, including vessels, under the Liquor Act 2007 and Liquor Regulation 2018.

Where there is a noise complaint related to a vessel suspected of being associated with a liquor licence, please submit an online complaint to L&GNSW directly. This can be done via the following link: Sound regulation for licensed venues – Liquor & Gaming NSW.

If the matter is urgent and an on-water response is required, please phone the NSW Police, Marine Area Command on (02) 9320 7499.

To make a general enquiry to L&GNSW, phone 1300 024 720 or email sound.compliance@liquorandgaming.nsw.gov.au.

Transport for NSW has agreed to provide a support function for L&GNSW and NSW Police, in situations where our officers can respond to on-water events ‘on-the-spot’. 

Transport for NSW officers continue to be involved with regulating other types of ‘offensive noise’ on NSW waterways, such as amplified music on a vessel or defective vessel equipment, which is likely to interfere with the comfort of people not on the vessel. 

Noise can also disturb wildlife, especially waterbirds and other animals – see Protecting marine life.