Building works & delivery hours

You need a permit if your building work is likely to create audible noise at an affected building:

• before 6:30am or after 6:30pm on a business day or Saturday
• at any time on a Sunday or public holiday.

You don't need a permit if works do not generate audible noise beyond the work site.

A permit is also not required for:

• government authorities undertaking maintenance of public roads, rail or transport infrastructure
• maintenance of public infrastructure such as water, sewerage, telecommunications or electricity
• works carried out under the Disaster Management Act 2003
• management of public health risks under the Public Health Act 2005.

Further exemption details are available under the Environmental Protection Act 1994.

To be eligible for an After hours building work (noise) permit, you must demonstrate:

• why the works cannot reasonably be carried out during standard hours, such as:
  • public or worker safety
  • traffic management constraints
  • impacts to public access
  • essential utility interruptions.
• evidence supporting your request, for example:
  • Queensland Police traffic permit
  • Temporary Road Closure Permit
  • documentation from a utility provider.
• how the proposed works benefit the wider community.

Applications based solely on convenience, scheduling preferences or contractor availability will not be approved.

Minimising community impact by:

• limiting the duration and intensity of noisy activities
• avoiding sensitive times where possible
• ensuring nearby residents and businesses are informed early
• requiring responsive complaint management arrangements.

Maintaining safety and compliance by:

• protecting workers and the public
• maintaining safe access to roads, footpaths and services
• ensuring compliance with legislation, permit conditions and noise limits.

Consistency and quality including:

• clear scope of works and realistic timeframes
• appropriate noise controls and mitigation measures
• accurate, complete and consistent application information.

A noise management plan must accompany your application and clearly outline:

• applicable noise criteria
• planned hours of work
• equipment and machinery to be used, including high noise plant
• noise mitigation and control measures
• activities likely to exceed noise limits and how these will be managed
• resident and business notification methods
• complaint handling process, including response arrangements and record keeping
• noise monitoring methods for high risk activities
• contingency actions if noise limits are exceeded, such as:
  • modifying work methods
  • implementing additional controls
  • pausing works.

Where excessive or high risk noise is proposed, council may require a more detailed assessment or impose additional conditions.

High noise activities cannot be conducted between 10pm and 6am.

Nearby residents and businesses must be notified before any approved after hours noisy work begins.

• A draft notification letter must be submitted to council for approval before distribution – download a sample letter(DOCX, 16KB).
• The approved letter must be distributed to all affected properties at least 5 days before works start.
• You must advise us by email when your notification has been distributed.
• We will provide a copy of the approved letter to the appropriate local councillor.

The notification must clearly outline:

• the type of works
• dates and times
• expected noise impacts
• contact details for the site representative.

Fees apply. Refer to our Register of fees and charges or make an online fee enquiry.