REGULATION OF CONSTRUCTION NOISE
Development is a fundamental
part of the City of Sydney’s urban
environment but construction
works need to be controlled so
they don’t become a nuisance for
those who live in, work in or visit
our city.
The City of Sydney manages noise created
from construction works through the implementation of its Construction Hours/ Noise
within the Central Business District Code of Practice 1992 (The Code). As part of the
City of Sydney’s Commitment to continuous improvement, the Code is currently
under review and the revised code will be published in the near future.
The current Code of Practice can be viewed at:
http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Development/Documents/PlansAndPolicies/Polic
ies/ConstructionHours_Noise92.pdf
The Code places the following restrictions and obligations on the developer and all
contractors, which is designed to limit the extent of neighbourhood noise:
Requirements for noise attenuation measures for construction to be part of
development approval and for developers to engage the advice of suitably
qualified and competent acoustic consultants to act on their behalf in identifying
appropriate noise compliance measures.

Restriction of all potentially noisy construction activities to between 7.00am and
7.00pm, Mondays to Fridays and between 7.00am and 5.00pm Saturdays for
projects within the Central Business District.
Construction in all other parts of the City are restricted to between the hours of
7.30am and 5.30pm Mondays to Fridays and 7.30am and 3.30pm Saturdays with
no working on Sundays or Bank Holidays anywhere within the City boundaries.
In certain instances these hours may be modified in order to restrict the use of
particularly noisy machinery such as rock breakers, rock saws and pile drivers
where the site is close to neighbouring noise sensitive receivers and noise from
their use is likely to exceed the noise criteria set under the code

All reasonable and practicable steps must be taken by contractors to prevent
offensive noise.
In doing so, contractors need to work towards restricting noise levels from
construction activities to specified noise criteria stated within the code.
Noise criteria
▪ No more that 5dB above background
noise level during the first working
hour;
▪ No more than 10dB above
background noise level at all other
times

Suitable steps that should be employed include substituting noisy equipment with
alternative, quieter machinery; retro fitting existing equipment with noise damping
materials and mufflers, using well maintained machinery and the erection of
acoustic barriers around noisy operations.

There are occasions where sound levels from certain construction activities and
the use of some equipment may not be able to meet the noise criteria set within
the Code. This may be for example where construction sites are in close
proximity to neighbouring noise sensitive receivers and the use of highly intrusive
demolition and excavation equipment or other noisy machinery is necessary.

The City can restrict the use of highly intrusive equipment and require that
developers provide suitable breaks and respite periods or restrict the times that
any intrusive equipment may or may not be used in order to minimise the impact
on neighbouring occupiers. Respite periods can be required at both the
development approval stage and during the construction operation should
complaints of excessive noise be justified.

The contractor is expected to initiate a complaint monitoring and resolution
procedure so that any neighbourhood concerns can be investigated and resolved
when raised. The contact details of a suitable and readily contactable
representative of the contractor must be publicly displayed at the site and be
made available to the occupiers of neighbouring noise sensitive properties.
Complaint logs should be kept detailing any complaints as they are received and
the action taken in response to each complaint. These can be requested by the
City’s Health Surveyors as an external audit should complaints be submitted to
the City.
Why machines get noisier with use:
Worn or chipped gear teeth, bearings
Loose or worn parts – drive belts
Poor lubrication – squeals from dry bearings
Imbalance in rotating parts e.g motor shafts
Blunt blades or cutting faces – drill bits etc
Damaged silencers / mufflers
Removal of mufflers, acoustic guards etc.
Noise Management Plans
Where there is likelihood that construction works will have a significant impact on the
local community, the developer will be required to formulate and submit a Noise
Management Plan to the City.
Noise management plans should be completed by a suitably qualified and competent
person, who possesses the qualifications to render them eligible for membership of
the Australian Acoustic Society, Institution of Engineers Australia or the Australian
Association of Acoustic Consultants as part of the Development Application in
accordance with the Code.
The City will expect any Noise Management plan to contain comprehensive details of
the work methods that the developers will employ on site in order to fully comply with
the Code.
The requirement for developers to have a construction noise management plan will
be included within conditions of Development Consent for most large sites and where
significant impact is considered likely.
Where unforseen problems with offensive noise occur during construction works, the
City can require additional controls under the Protection of the Environment
Operations Act 1997, which include the requirement for developers to amend and
review Noise Management Plans and work methods when necessary.
CONSTRUCTION NOISE
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Q: Why is there so much development taking place in Sydney and why does
it sometimes create a lot of noise?
A: Development is a fundamental part of the City of Sydney's urban environment
as with many other leading world cities. Construction works need to be controlled
so it doesn’t become a nuisance for those who live in, work in or visit our city.
Q: How does the Council control noise from building and construction
works?
A: The City of Sydney manages noise created from construction works through the
implementation of its Construction Hours/ Noise within the Central Business District
Code of Practice 1992 (The Code).
As part of the City of Sydney’s Commitment to continuous improvement, the Code
is currently under review and the revised code will be published in the near future.
The current Code of Practice can be viewed at:
Construction Hours - Noise | PDF 1.7Mb
Q: How does the Council use the Code to control construction noise?
A: Through placing the following restrictions and obligations on developers and all
contractors, which is designed to limit the extent of neighbourhood noise:



Requirements for noise attenuation measures for construction to be part of
development approval and for developers to engage the advice of suitably
qualified and competent acoustic consultants to act on their behalf in identifying
appropriate noise compliance measures.
Restriction of all potentially noisy construction activities to between 7.00am and
7.00pm, Mondays to Fridays and between 7.00am and 5.00pm Saturdays for
projects within the Central Business District.
All reasonable and practicable steps must be taken by contractors to prevent
offensive noise.
Q: Does the Council set noise limits for construction?
A: Contractors need to work towards restricting noise levels wherever possible
from construction activities to the desirable noise criteria stated within the code.
- No more that 5dB above background noise level during the first working
hour;
- No more than 10dB above background noise level at all other times
Q: What can contractors do to reduce construction noise?
A: They should be taking suitable steps, including substituting noisy equipment with
alternative, quieter machinery; retro fitting existing equipment with noise damping
materials and mufflers, using well maintained machinery and the erection of acoustic
barriers around noisy operations.
Q: Will the Council stop the work if the contractor exceeds the levels within the
code?
A: Not necessarily. There are occasions where sound levels from certain construction
activities and the use of some equipment may not be able to meet the desirable noise
criteria set within the Code despite the contractor taking all reasonable measures.
This may be for example where construction sites are in close proximity to
neighbouring noise sensitive receivers and the use of highly intrusive demolition and
excavation equipment or other noisy machinery is necessary.
Q: What can be done in this sort of situation?
A: Where the noise criteria cannot be complied with the City can restrict the use of
highly intrusive equipment and require that developers provide suitable breaks and
respite periods or restrict the times that any intrusive equipment may or may not be
used in order to minimise the impact on neighbouring occupiers.
Respite periods can be required at both the development approval stage and during
the construction operation should complaints of excessive noise be justified.
Q: How can I complain about excessive noise from construction sites and who
do I complain to?
A: The contractor is expected to initiate a complaint monitoring and resolution
procedure so that any neighbourhood concerns can be investigated and resolved
when raised. The contractor should display details of a suitable and readily contactable
representative, which should be publicly displayed at the site and be made available to
the occupiers of neighbouring noise sensitive properties.
Q. What else should the developers and contractors be doing to resolve
complaints?
A: They should be keeping documented logs detailing any complaints as they are
received and the action taken in response to each complaint. These will normally be
requested by the City’s Environmental Health Officers as an external audit should
complaints be submitted to the City.
Q: What can be done if the contractors are not responding or properly dealing
with complaints?
A: Please contact the City and register any complaints through the contact centre on
9265 9333.As part of the City of Sydney's commitment to continuous improvement,
the Construction and Building Code of Practice is currently under review and will be
published in the near future.
Why machines get noisier with use:
 Worn or chipped gear teeth, bearings
 Loose or worn parts – drive belts
 Poor lubrication – squeals from dry bearings
 Imbalance in rotating parts e.g. motor shafts
 Blunt blades or cutting faces – drill bits etc
 Damaged silencers / mufflers
 Removal of mufflers, acoustic guards etc.