The draft regulation has been developed in consultation with key community, industry and government stakeholders to ensure it remains robust, practical and fit for purpose.

We're holding this public consultation so all stakeholders, including the general public, have an opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed changes. Your feedback is highly valued and will help to finalise the regulation.

The review has been informed by noise data and extensive research, and aims to achieve a balance between the community’s right to peace and quiet and the right to conduct legitimate, although potentially noisy, activities. The draft regulation better responds to contemporary challenges while ensuring controls remain appropriate and workable.

We invite you to review the draft Regulation and Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS), and share your feedback.

To help you understand the proposed changes, you can also access a summary of changes document.

We're seeking your views on key proposed changes, including:

• extending liability for offensive noise from vehicles used on private property
• exempting noise triggered by child presence detection alarms from the noise requirements for motor vehicle intruder alarms and horns
• including a broader range of noise‑making devices related to marine vessel noise
• extending the permitted hours of use for air conditioners and pumps
• simplifying labelling requirements for grass‑cutting machines, pavement breakers and mobile garbage compactors
• exempting certain articles from labelling requirements due to technological or safety advancements, such as robot lawn mowers
• extending the time frame for regulators to investigate and issue penalties, and increasing penalty amounts, for certain noise offences.

These changes aim to ensure that the regulation continues to effectively protect communities from offensive noise impacts.

Public consultation on the draft Noise Control Regulation 2026 is now open until 5pm Wednesday 11 March 2026.

You can provide your feedback by:

• completing the survey below (approx. 20 minutes), or

• providing a written submission via email to: noise.reform@epa.nsw.gov.au

Your input will help shape the final regulation, so that it continues to protect NSW communities from offensive noise.

Please note, your feedback may include ‘personal information,' including your name, address, email, internet protocol address and any other personal information contained in your feedback.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (the EPA) must comply with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998. Visit the EPA’s privacy page and the Privacy Policy for further information on its online consultation platform.

The EPA may publish all or part of your feedback on its website, on its online consultation platform or in a consultation report. In providing us with your feedback, you consent to the EPA publishing all or part of your submission. If you would like all or part of your feedback to be withheld from publication, please let us know when making your feedback.

If you send us an email, we will record your email for the purpose of responding to you.

All information held by the EPA is subject to the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009.