With the introduction of the EP Act 2017 and the general environmental duty (GED), all businesses in Victoria have a responsibility to prevent harm to human health and the environment from noise pollution. The Environment Protection Regulations 2021 also outline what constitutes unreasonable noise and aggravated noise from commercial, industrial and trade (CIT) premises and entertainment venues and events

To support this environment protection framework, EPA Victoria has released the first two pieces in a new guidance series to help Victorian businesses, community and government agencies understand and meet these responsibilities in relation to noise emissions:

• Commerce, industry, and trade noise guidelines – explains the function of Division 3 of Part 5.3 of the Environment Protection Regulations 2021, how they relate to noise from commercial industrial and trade premises, what sources of noise Division 3 applies too, how compliance with Division 3 may be assessed and links to industry specific resources.
• Entertainment venue and outdoor event music noise guidelines – explains the function of Division 4 of Part 5.3 of the Environment Protection Regulations 2021, how they relate to noise from indoor venues and outdoor venues and events, what sources of noise Division 4 applies too and the permissions framework for outdoor venues and events.

These guidelines also compliment EPA general guidance publications such as Reasonably practicable and Assessing and controlling risk which focus on reducing risks associated with noise pollution via the GED.

EPA Victoria has also updated Publication 2025: permit application requirements for outdoor entertainment venues and events in order to provide greater clarity to applicants on how EPA permissions can be used for their activities.

What is unreasonable noise, a guideline exploring the definition of unreasonable noise in the Environment Protection Act and its applications, is planned for release in early 2023.

More information

• To access the Commerce, industry, and trade noise guidelines, the Entertainment venue and outdoor event music noise guidelines or publication 2025: permit application requirements for outdoor entertainment venues and events, click on the relevant link.
• If you have questions about these guidelines, or want to provide feedback, you can contact EPA by calling 1300 EPA VIC (1300 372 842), by emailing contact@epa.vic.gov.au or through the EPA Interaction Portal.