Resource Management Act 1991

Declarations, enforcement, and ancillary powers - Excessive noise

327: Issue and effect of excessive noise direction

You could also call this:

"What to do if you're told to reduce excessive noise"

Illustration for Resource Management Act 1991

You can get a direction to reduce excessive noise. An enforcement officer or constable can give you this direction if they get a complaint about noise. They must think the noise is excessive after investigating. You might get this direction in writing or orally. It means you must not make excessive noise from that place for 8 days or a shorter time. This direction is in addition to other powers, such as issuing abatement notices under sections 322 to 325 or seeking an enforcement order under section 316. If you get a direction, you and others must reduce the noise to a reasonable level. This helps keep the noise down for a while after the direction is given.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on 28 October 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM238596.

Topics:

Housing and property > Home safety and repairsEnvironment and resources > Conservation

326: Meaning of excessive noise, or

"What is excessive noise that disturbs people's peace and comfort?"

328: Compliance with an excessive noise direction, or

"Stopping excessive noise: what you must do when told to be quiet"

Part 12Declarations, enforcement, and ancillary powers
Excessive noise

327Issue and effect of excessive noise direction

Any enforcement officer, or any constable acting upon the request of an enforcement officer, who—
has received a complaint that excessive noise is being emitted from any place; and
upon investigation of the complaint, is of the opinion that the noise is excessive,—

A direction under subsection (1) may be given in writing or orally.
Every direction under subsection (1) shall prohibit the person to whom it is given, and every other person bound by the direction, from causing or contributing to the emission of excessive noise from or within the vicinity of the place at any time during the period of 8 days or such shorter period as the enforcement officer or constable specifies, commencing at the time the direction is given.
The powers under this section are in addition to the powers under sections 322 to 325 to issue abatement notices relating to unreasonable noise and to seek an enforcement order under section 316.

Notes

Section 327(3): amended, on 21 August 2025, by section 77 of the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 41).