Tips for controlling noise in licensed venues

Addressing the following questions can go a long way toward ensuring your business does not become a neighbourhood problem.

Venues

• Are the doors and windows closed during entertainment?
• Are the speakers facing away from your neighbours?
• Can you utilise another area of your premises away from your neighbours?
• Is there a soundlock on the entry to the entertainment area?
• Is the type of entertainment suitable to the structure at the premises?
• Have you walked outside and listened for noise from your premises? (If you can make out the actual words to a song, the entertainment is too loud).
• Can you hear the bass noise clearly when outside the venue? This type of noise will impact heavily on neighbours; consider adjusting the bass levels.
• Have you considered installing a sound limiting device? (See your licence conditions for your maximum allowable noise limit.)
• Have you investigated whether double glazing may help with noise control?
• Are all motors adequately maintained?
• Is it necessary to run motors all night (e.g. refrigerators)?
• Can motors be baffled or repositioned away from neighbours?
• Are signs in place requesting patrons be mindful of the neighbourhood?
• Do you have adequate security and lighting in external areas, such as car parks? This will discourage loitering when patrons leave the premises.
• Can you reposition the cab rank away from your neighbours?

Patrons

• Are signs in place requesting patrons be mindful of the neighbourhood?
• Do you have adequate security and lighting in external areas, such as car parks? This will discourage loitering when patrons leave the premises.
• Do you have security monitoring the external areas of the premises at closing time to manage patrons as they leave?
• Can you reposition the cab rank away from your neighbours?

Also consider...

• Read more about compliance for liquor licensees.
• Find out more about patron and staff safety in licensed premises.
• Take our complying with noise requirements for licensed venues refresher and test your knowledge with the quiz.