Managing noise as a business

If you are looking for a new business location, ensure your business is a good fit for the neighbourhood. Look at both what's in the area now, and what's enabled through the District Plan. 

Pay close attention to District Plan rules for the area’s zone, especially any noise limits, and what kinds of residential development are allowed. If the location you're looking at is zoned mixed-use or residential, knowing the area's rules is even more important, along with identifying any nearby homes or guest accommodation.

Be mindful of nearby residential buildings, libraries, schools and hospitals, as noise may affect them more. If you will be near residents and keeping the noise low at night isn't an option, you will need to have robust acoustic insulation and follow best noise management practices to avoid issues with neighbours.

Monitor your noise levels and remain within noise limits if sensitive buildings or areas are nearby – this can help prevent noise complaints.

Also, prepare for future development in mixed-use or residential zones – empty sites or underused buildings may become housing in the future. 

Consider the below if you currently, or plan to, operate near residents – or where more residents could potentially move in.

• Consider the area’s zoning and its planning rules – if residential development is permitted in your area, then prepare for the possibility of more residents on your street in the future.
• Consider the area’s noise limits – if you emit loud noise (e.g. loud music, or large mechanical ventilation systems), especially between 11pm - 7am, ensure your business can comply with noise limits, or invest in noise mitigation efforts and planning, to avoid noise complaints.
• Assess current and future development around you – how many residential properties are there, and how close are they to your business? Each residential property means another person to consider when emitting sound into the area.
• Remain aware of upcoming developments nearby. New residents may have researched the area’s existing noise limits, and often expect these limits to be met.
• Forming relationships with residents pre-emptively can address potential issues. Setting mutual expectations and finding common ground on noise management and mitigation will help relationships.

Please note

The city's noise limits and zoning are currently being assessed and may be subject to change within the coming years. New residential development enabled in the upcoming Plan Change 14 will also see more people living here, further influencing noise limits. You should confirm what implications this has for your area.

• Assess your building’s noise credentials – especially if you make noise during nighttime or early morning hours. Assess your building’s sound insulation and ability to keep noise inside. Identify any holes or gaps where noise can leak out.  A building with effective noise attenuation will result in fewer disturbances for residents. For more tips on improving your sound insulation and reducing noise impacts, have a look at the meeting noise rules section.
• Consider past noise concerns from previous tenants or owners – if past tenants and owners are telling you about any disputes, you could experience similar issues, particularly if you operate at night. You can also consult the Council’s Noise Control team for records of past noise complaints.

Being a good neighbour can pay off – your neighbours could become valuable supporters of your business.

Building positive relationships with them is crucial for a harmonious mixed-use environment and cultivating a loyal patron base.

Take the first step

If you are a new night-time business or there is a new residential development nearby, take the first step and reach out.

Hosting a neighbourhood meetup, potentially at your venue, can be a great icebreaker, and gives you the chance to address concerns, demonstrate your willingness to be a good neighbour, and showcase any noise prevention measures you have taken.

Also, let neighbours know about any one-off noisier events. People are often more sympathetic to one-off noise if they know when to expect it, and how long it will last for.

Finding common ground can establish you as the go-to contact for neighbours, reducing the need for Noise Control intervention. You may even attract new customers!

Be part of the neighbourhood

Participate in local events like festivals, fundraisers and holiday celebrations to integrate into the neighbourhood.  

Consider offering your venue for community use, like hosting events, to attract new patrons or strengthen existing relationships.

Introducing themed nights, pop-up shops, quizzes or community meetups can further engage the neighbourhood and garner support for your business.

Get in touch with the Council

We are always available for support on a range of issues, including licensing, planning and building considerations. We may also be available to help with any community-building initiatives you're planning.

Either get in touch at 03 941 8999, make a general inquiry(external link) or contact urbanregeneration@ccc.govt.nz

Noise rules are in place so that unreasonable noise levels won't negatively impact the surrounding area. The local noise limits are laid out in the Christchurch District Plan. (external link) These limits must always be adhered to.

If you are meeting noise rules, then noise from your business should be able to continue without any interference. However, if your business is loud (i.e. live music or machinery), operates at night, or is particularly close to homes, meeting those standards will be more challenging. 

There are great resources online (external link)to help music venues or other businesses mitigate noise.

If noise limits are breached, the public is entitled to complain and seek help from Noise Control to prevent further disruptive noise. So, noise complaints can complicate the running of your business. Steps you can take to keep noise complaints down include:

• Minimising your loud events: This will reduce noise complaints, as there is less of a chance you will breach noise limits. Depending on your business and what your patrons want, this may not be an option for you – loud music may be the main attraction.
• Reducing noise at source: The lower any noise level is, the less likely neighbours will complain – but this will have to be balanced with the right volume to entertain your patrons.  The later into the night you get, the more you should be turning down the volume. Bass especially should be kept low as it travels easily and is a source of many complaints.
• Keeping neighbours informed: People are often more sympathetic to one-off, louder noise if they've been informed, know when to expect it, and how long it will last for.
• Speaker placement: More loudspeakers at a reduced volume can create the same vibe as fewer, louder speakers. Leaning speakers on a stand close to performers, or suspending them downward facing from the ceiling, can ensure sound properly carries and doesn't need to be turned up. In a long room – where people at the back might not hear – distribute loudspeakers evenly throughout the space. 
• Consider your location: Check if residential activity is allowed close by, even if you're already established. Residents are generally more sensitive to noise than businesses are and will expect businesses to comply with noise rules. If you are close to residents and emit noise at night, you will need to have robust acoustic insulation and follow best-practice noise management to prevent issues. See the above 'considering your location' section for more advice.
• Keeping the noise inside the building: Keeping doors and windows closed and patrons inside, after 11pm, will help mitigate many issues. To reduce sound leakage, have speakers face towards the audience, and away from doors, windows and openings. Avoid placing the rear of speakers by windows or doors, and ensure windows and doors are effectively sealed – they are the easiest places for noise to escape (more information below).
• If there are any holes or gaps in your building facade, joints, or doors/windows, sealing them is the most efficient, cost-effective step for noise control. Doors and windows should be properly sealed, ideally with high-quality acoustic seals, which are available from some hardware stores, or directly from specialist suppliers.
• Installing sound insulation is more costly but, along with seals, will be effective in limiting noise leakage. Use partitions to enclose an area with higher sound levels or install a second door to create a sound lock lobby. Secondary glazing can be applied to windows, or windows can be blocked off if daylight is not needed.
• Get approval to hold noisy activities: If you're expecting to hold a loud event or breach noise limits in the future, obtaining a resource consent from the Council would enable you to emit higher levels of noise within a consented time period. There could be noise management and other conditions you would need to meet as part of your consent. Early communication with a duty planner, well in advance of your event, would be vital to confirm what needs to be considered and required as part of a resource consent.

When considering noise mitigation measures, it is always best to commission professional acoustic advice, to quantify the sound insulation needed, and to ensure the steps taken are effective in terms of cost and efficacy.