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New Zealand law explained for everyone

Resource Management Act 1991

Duties and restrictions under this Act - Noise

16: Duty to avoid unreasonable noise

You could also call this:

“Everyone must try their best to keep noise down to a level that's not too loud for others.”

You have a responsibility to keep noise levels reasonable if you’re using land or water. This includes any buildings, coastal areas, or water bodies. You need to use the best practical method to make sure the noise you create isn’t too loud.

There are rules about noise levels in national environmental standards, plans, or resource consents. These rules are based on sections 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 15A, and 15B of the law. They can set specific limits on how much noise you’re allowed to make. These rules work alongside your general duty to keep noise reasonable.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM231995.

Topics:
Environment and resources > Conservation
Environment and resources > Town planning
Housing and property > Land use
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“Everyone must try to stop, fix, or reduce any harm they cause to the environment.”

Part 3 Duties and restrictions under this Act
Noise

16Duty to avoid unreasonable noise

  1. Every occupier of land (including any premises and any coastal marine area), and every person carrying out an activity in, on, or under a water body or the coastal marine area, shall adopt the best practicable option to ensure that the emission of noise from that land or water does not exceed a reasonable level.

  2. A national environmental standard, plan, or resource consent made or granted for the purposes of any of sections 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 15A, and 15B may prescribe noise emission standards, and is not limited in its ability to do so by subsection (1).

Notes
  • Section 16(1): amended, on , by section 14 of the Resource Management Amendment Act 1993 (1993 No 65).
  • Section 16(2): replaced, on , by section 16 of the Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 31).