Mower noise and permitted mowing hours

Lawn mowers are one of the most common sources of neighbourhood noise complaints, and it's easy to see why. A petrol mower or ride-on can be heard several houses away, and the timing that suits you, early on a weekend before the heat sets in, is exactly when neighbours are hoping to sleep in. Every state and territory has rules about residential noise. This guide sets out what the regulators in NSW and Victoria say about lawn mowers, how to check the rules elsewhere and how to mow without making enemies.

NSW: power garden tools

In NSW, the Protection of the Environment Operations (Noise Control) Regulation sets times when certain noisy equipment must not be used if it can be heard inside a neighbour's home, specifically in a residential room. The NSW EPA lists power tools and equipment, including powered garden tools such as lawn mowers, lawn trimmers, edge cutters and leaf blowers, with these restricted times:

The NSW EPA notes that local council or police can deal with breaches. Outside those hours, noise can still be dealt with if it's offensive, for example because of how loud or how long it is.

Victoria: lawn mowers and grass-cutting devices

In Victoria, the Environment Protection Regulations 2021 set prohibited times for residential noise. EPA Victoria explains that residential noise is unreasonable if it happens during prohibited times and someone in a habitable room in another residence can hear it. Lawn mowers and other grass-cutting devices are listed in group 1, with these prohibited times:

Electric power tools and other electrical gardening tools have the same times. A habitable room is any room except kitchens, pantries, bathrooms, toilets, laundries and storage areas. EPA Victoria also notes that a council officer can still assess noise as unreasonable within the allowed times if it has qualities such as unnecessarily excessive volume. Councils, not the EPA, investigate residential noise reports in Victoria.

Other states and territories

Other states and territories have their own residential noise rules, and the permitted times for mowers differ. Before mowing early or late, check:

• your state or territory environment protection authority or environment department;
• your local council's website, which often summarises residential noise rules;
• any strata or community title by-laws, which can set stricter rules for shared areas.

We haven't summarised every jurisdiction here, because the details vary and change. Check the official source for where you live.

Battery mowers and quieter options

Battery mowers and robot mowers are generally much quieter than petrol mowers, which makes them less likely to disturb anyone. But neither the NSW nor Victorian rules exempt quieter mowers: in NSW the rule covers power garden tools, and in Victoria lawn mowers and grass-cutting devices are a listed group. If a robot mower is scheduled to run early in the morning and can be heard in a neighbour's home during restricted times, the rules can apply.

Scheduling a robot for mid-morning or during the day is safer for both the rules and wildlife. See our robot mower guide.

Tips for keeping the peace

Even within the rules, a little consideration goes a long way.

• Pick a sensible time. Mid-morning on a weekend is usually more welcome than the first legal minute.
• Talk to your neighbours. If someone works night shifts or has a new baby, a quick chat about timing can prevent friction.
• Keep the mower in good condition. A worn muffler, loose parts or a bent blade can make a mower louder. See servicing a petrol mower.
• Choose quieter equipment when it's time to replace your mower, particularly in dense suburbs.
• Don't let the lawn get too long. Long grass takes longer to mow and makes the engine work harder.
• Combine jobs. Do the mowing, edging and blowing in one session rather than spreading noise across the weekend.
• Clean up after. Sweep clippings off the footpath and road rather than blowing them into the gutter, where they can wash into stormwater.

Mowing early in hot weather

In summer, mowing in the cooler part of the day makes sense for your health and the lawn: the Queensland Government advises avoiding the hottest part of the day when mowing. That can create tension with noise rules early in the morning. Consider late afternoon or early evening before 8pm instead, when the temperature has dropped. See mowing in heat and drought.

If a neighbour's mowing bothers you

1. Talk to them first. Many people don't know the rules or don't realise how far the noise carries. A friendly, specific conversation often solves the problem.
2. Keep a record of dates, times and how the noise affected you, in case it continues.
3. Seek mediation. In NSW, Community Justice Centres offer free mediation for neighbour disputes. Other states have similar dispute resolution services.
4. Contact your council or police. In NSW, the EPA lists local council or police as the bodies to contact for residential noise. In Victoria, councils investigate residential noise.

Mowing for work at home

These rules apply to residential noise. If you mow other people's lawns as a business, other rules and conditions may apply. Check with your council and the relevant regulator.

Strata, townhouses and shared walls

In apartment blocks, townhouse complexes and other strata schemes, the owners corporation's by-laws can set extra rules about noise and when common lawns are mown. Contractors engaged by the strata may also have set hours in their agreement. If you live in a strata scheme, check the by-laws before mowing a private courtyard early or late, and raise any concerns about contractor mowing times with the strata manager or committee. In dense housing, sound carries further than you might expect, especially between buildings and off hard surfaces, so being considerate matters even more.

Key points

• In NSW, don't use mowers when they can be heard in a neighbour's home before 8am or after 8pm on weekends and public holidays, or before 7am or after 8pm on other days.
• In Victoria, the prohibited times for lawn mowers are before 7am and after 8pm on weekdays, and before 9am and after 8pm on weekends and public holidays.
• Other states and territories have their own rules: check the official source.
• Quieter mowers aren't exempt, and noise can be unreasonable even within permitted hours.
• Talking to neighbours first solves most problems.