Services - Noise Control

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Waitaki District Council

Services Noise Control

Services

Disclaimer

Noise Control
Someone is making a lot of noise…What can I do? Council administers the legislation covering noise complaints. The legislation DOES NOT cover everyday activities such as... • Lawn mowing • Building construction • Road repairs etc. Loud Parties and stereo noise are by far the most common complaints. To register a complaint: During the Day: Call the WDC (03 4330300) to register a complaint WDC will put you in contact with Chubb Security After Hours: Use the Council 24 service – it will redirect you to ‘noise control dispatch’ How much noise can I make? Generally, there are no set rules about how much noise you can make, apart from when it starts annoying someone else, and then the noise would need to be investigated. This can be anytime of the day or night! If a reasonable person would consider the noise to be unreasonable, then a complaint can be made to Council to investigate. What hours is ‘Noise Control’ in effect? Noise can be a nuisance at anytime of day or night. Generally, the tolerance level is lower during night hours, when people expect to relax and sleep. What are the Penalties for making excessive noise? The Resource management Act administers noise. If a noise complaint is made:- • You will be asked to reduce the noise, • You may be issued with a Notice [‘Direction to Reduce Excessive noise’] • You may have the equipment making the noise, seized. • You may be prosecuted. This involves significant expense.	What happens if Noise Control decides ‘I am too noisy’? • Initially you will be asked to reduce the noise to a reasonable level. • A written notice (a Direction to reduce Excessive Noise) maybe issued…(at any stage or visit). • The Notice once issued remains in effect for 72 hours. • Your stereo equipment maybe seized…this can happen at any stage during the visit, and will necessitate Police involvement. • A written Notice needs to have been issued prior to stereo equipment being seized. Generally, the WDC offer the offender 1 chance to comply with noise reduction, before any further steps are taken. What does it cost to retrieve my seized equipment? You will be charged for ALL costs associated with the seizure. This amount is usually over $100 What can I do about repeat offending? Continue calling the Council and Noise control. Annoying as the noise is, the process needs to develop a history of offending, so that legal options can be considered. These options can be costly to the offender…into the thousands of dollars. I AM PLANNING A NOISY PARTY? If your planning a noisy party or event, or just simply want to play your music loudly…it is important to be considerate of your neighbours and community. So…in an attempt to keep the peace; • Give your neighbours advanced warning that you are having a party, and ask that they contact you rather than noise control if they find the noise gets to excessive. • Consider the time and duration of the party! 12-4am is considered unreasonable! • Make sure all windows and doors are closed to keep the noise inside the house • Keep your guests inside if possible, or at least ensure they don’t yell or make too much noise outside. • REDUCE THE BASS on your stereo. It is usually the BASS beat that causes neighbours the most grief, rather than the actual noise level!	How much noise can I make? Generally, there are no set rules about how much noise you can make, apart from when it starts annoying someone else, and then the noise would need to be investigated. This can be anytime of the day or night! If a reasonable person would consider the noise to be unreasonable, then a complaint can be made to Council to investigate. What hours is ‘Noise Control’ in effect? Noise can be a nuisance at anytime of day or night. Generally, the tolerance level is lower during night hours, when people expect to relax and sleep. What are the Penalties for making excessive noise? The Resource management Act administers noise. If a noise complaint is made:- • You will be asked to reduce the noise, • You may be issued with a Notice [‘Direction to Reduce Excessive noise’] • You may have the equipment making the noise, seized. • You may be prosecuted. This involves significant expense.