Noise restrictions and acoustic consultants
Around 33 per cent of complaints received each year by the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation are related to excessive noise from licensed venues, usually due to loud entertainment and noisy patrons in and near the venue.
All licensees and permittees must ensure that noise coming from their establishment is not unreasonable noise and/or does not exceed the noise limit that is a condition of their licence. This includes noise from:
- entertainment
- patrons at, entering or leaving the premises
- motors, including generators and air conditioning units.
Many licensees have conditions endorsed on their licence document specific to their venue and relating to entertainment noise levels.
Acoustic consultants
If a licensee intends to conduct amplified entertainment above 75 decibels at a new establishment, or if a licensee seeks to remove a current condition prohibiting or limiting amplified entertainment, they must provide a report from a qualified sound engineer.
Download a list of sound engineers familiar with liquor licensing noise requirements (PDF 50 K).
Acoustic consultants and sound engineers should familiarise themselves with the Guidelines for acoustic consultants (PDF 8,130 K).
Powers of investigators
If an investigator deems that noise from a licensed venue is unreasonable, the investigator may issue a written notice to the licensee or person in charge of the premises at the time to either:
- reduce or stop the noise
- close the venue.
If a licensee does not comply with an order, the order can be enforced through either:
- prosecution, which carries a maximum fine of $2500
- disciplinary action, which can have results ranging from fines to cancellation of the licence.
More information can be found in the Noise restrictions fact sheet (PDF 105 K) and Guideline 19: Patrons on premises at times other than when liquor may be sold or consumed.
Contacts
- General liquor licence inquiries: phone 13 QGOV (13 74 68)
- Liquor licence compliance inquiries: email liquor-compliance-enquiries@deedi.qld.gov.au
Last reviewed 18 July 2011