An Australian man was left furious after he was threatened with a $10,000 fine for using his air conditioning at night because it is too loud.
George said he was told he cannot run his heating or cooling system at his Artarmon property, on Sydney’s lower north shore, after 10pm.
He claimed to have received a notice from Willoughby Council warning him that he was also prohibited from using it before 7am.
At the top of the letter was written “Warning Letter: Noise Disturbance.”
“I called the council and asked them, ‘What do you want me to do about heating and cooling?'” he said. 2GB On Wednesday.
A resident of Artarmon, on Sydney’s lower north shore, was threatened with a huge $10,000 fine by a council if he kept his air conditioning unit on after 10pm (file image pictured) .
George said he also received an email from the council, claiming he would be fined $10,000.
According to the Environmental Protection Operations Regulations 2017, it is an offense to use an air conditioner that causes noise nuisance.
“The person makes or allows an air conditioner to be used in a dwelling in such a way that it emits a noise that can be heard in any room of any other dwelling,” the law states.
The legislation states that the rule applies regardless of whether the door or window of the room affected by the noise is open between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Monday to Friday.
The rule also applies between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. on weekends and holidays.
The maximum penalty imposed on those who commit the crime is $11,000.
Wakehurst independent MP Michael Regan, who is also a former mayor of the Northern Beaches, said his office used to receive multiple noise complaints from air conditioners.
“Our customer service team would probably receive several (complaints) a day,” he said.
Regan said it was not unusual for residents to complain about air conditioners in neighboring properties, especially if the houses were very close.
Under New South Wales state government rules, a person can be fined a maximum of $11,000 if an air conditioning system causes a disturbance to a neighboring property (file image pictured).
“There were legitimate concerns about noise, (like) those air conditioners from Woolworths that you can plug into the windows, they would make a lot of noise and they would be a meter or two from a bedroom window,” Mr Regan said.
Air conditioning units reach an average of 35 decibels and systems should not exceed 40 decibels, which is the average background or ambient noise level.
Residents do not need building or planning approval if a proposal to install an air conditioning unit complies with development regulations, which are specified in the State Environmental Planning Policy 2008.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Willoughby City Council for comment.
