We’re making it easier for the arts, cultural and hospitality businesses to contribute to local economies, and make safe and exciting nightlife a feature of our communities. We are also looking at ways to support our vital night-time workforce whether in hospitality, retail, emergency services or industry.
The Vibrancy Reforms are a cross-government initiative developed in consultation with key agencies, industry, councils and stakeholders to bring sector regulation in line with contemporary going out behaviours, improve government processes and encourage more people to go out, closer to home. Find out more at Vibrancy Reforms.
Regulation around noise, planning and liquor licensing has been streamlined, updated and simplified through the NSW Government's 24-Hour Economy Legislation (Vibrancy Reforms) Amendment Act 2023. This means venues in NSW will have the opportunity to reach their full entertainment, economic and creative potential – especially at night.
From 1 July 2024, changes introduced by Vibrancy Reforms provide more favourable noise management for venue operators. Find out more about how the changes affect development consents for licensed premises in the frequently asked questions below and Planning Circular PS 24-003.
In September 2020, the NSW Government launched the 24-hour Economy Strategy, its long-term vision for Sydney. We will help deliver the strategy by activating spaces, creating vibrant places to work and live, aligning planning and liquor approvals and streamlining processes.
The NSW Liquor Amendment (Night-time Economy) Act 2020 supports councils' ongoing work to develop a vibrant, safe and modern night-time economy across NSW.
Applicability of noise conditions and rules
Under the Vibrancy Reforms, certain noise-related conditions on licensed venues’ development consents cease to have effect while the matter is being regulated under the Liquor Act 2007. From 1 July 2024 the following consent conditions no longer have effect.
- Category 1: Conditions related to noise from the way the business of the licensed premises is conducted. They are:
- decibel limit-based sound controls, such as the LA10 noise criteria
- the provision or cessation of live/amplified music or sound entertainment at specific times
- the use of a noise limiter
- the placement and use of speakers.
- Category 2: Conditions related to the behaviour of patrons after they leave the licensed premises. This includes anti-social behaviour or alcohol-related violence.
No. All conditions of development consent that relate to the above will automatically cease to have effect from 1 July 2024. Licensed venues and councils are not required to take any action to implement this change, for example a modification application is not needed.
No. The complaint reforms apply only to licensed premises (i.e. premises with a liquor licence). Councils will continue to manage noise complaints about unlicensed premises.
Noise complaint process
If you have concerns about the level of noise generated by a licensed venue, such as noise from amplified music, entertainment or patron noise, you can lodge a complaint via the Liquor & Gaming NSW online portal.
Please refer to Liquor & Gaming NSW for more information about the complaint process, including advice about speaking to the venue and making a formal complaint.
Liquor & Gaming NSW and the NSW Police deal with noise complaints related to entertainment. Councils are not responsible for this. Please refer to Liquor & Gaming NSW for more information.
Councils’ responsibilities for noise
Councils are no longer responsible for responding to noise complaints related to entertainment noise at licensed premises.
For complaints before 1 July 2024, councils should continue to manage and finalise ongoing noise complaints under their existing processes.
From 1 July 2024, councils can refer any new noise complaints related to entertainment at licensed venues to Liquor & Gaming NSW.
Councils should continue to assess development applications for licensed venues and apply conditions of consent as usual, even though they will not take effect.
Noise related to entertainment
For noise related to entertainment, councils should still apply conditions on new development consents in case circumstances change. For example, if a venue no longer holds a liquor licence, it may continue to trade as an unlicensed venue. In this circumstance, conditions of consent will be activated and managed by the relevant local council as the development consents run with the land and are enduring.
Noise not related to entertainment
For noise not related to entertainment, consents are not affected by the Vibrancy Reforms. These conditions may include requirements for noise mitigation (e.g. from air conditioning or waste disposal procedures like glass crushing).
More information about noise complaints
Go to Liquor & Gaming NSW to read the disturbance complaint guidelines for licensed premises.
Find out more about the complaint process in Liquor & Gaming NSW’s overview of reforms to the regulation of venue sound management.
