Tips for controlling noise in licensed venues

Consider these tips to help ensure your venue doesn't produce excessive noise.

Controlling venue noise

• Close the doors and windows during entertainment.
• Face speakers away from your neighbours.
• Use an area of your premises away from your neighbours.
• Use a sound lock at the entrance to the entertainment area.
• Only provide entertainment suitable to the structure of your premises.
• Go outside and listen for noise—if you can make out the actual words to a song, the music is too loud.
• Check whether you can hear the bass clearly outside your venue and adjust the levels—bass will heavily impact on your neighbours.
• Install a sound limiting device.
• Investigate whether double glazing might help with noise control.
• Maintain all motorised equipment in good working order.
• Turn off motors at night.
• Reposition motors away from neighbours.

Controlling patron noise

• Display signs asking patrons to be considerate of neighbours.
• Ensure adequate security and lighting in external areas (e.g. car parks) to manage patrons as they leave and discourage loitering.
• Reposition taxi ranks away from your neighbours.

Also consider...

• Read Guideline 16: Control of entertainment noise.
• Read more about noise limits in licensed venues.
• Access printable noise signage for licensed venues.
• Read 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.