Music venue owners say noise complaints and restrictive noise levels are silencing live music in Canberra's suburbs.
Co-owner of the Old Canberra Inn Ben Johnston said he decided to stop hosting bands at the historic pub in January 2026 after repeated noise complaints from neighbours.
"You don't have any confidence to be able to put on any events that might go over the [noise] threshold, which they probably will, because any noise goes over the threshold," he said.
"You're at the mercy of [your neighbours] ... it's a real handbrake."
Between 7am and 10pm, Monday to Saturday, the noise limit for residential areas in Canberra is 45 decibels, which is quieter than sounds from a washing machine. After 10pm, the noise limit drops to 35 decibels, a little more than leaves rustling.
Mr Johnston said the low limits left his 169-year-old venue "really open" to a complaint, leading to him restricting live music events to solo acoustic musicians.
The owner said he had planned to install two vintage train carriages at the back of the inn, but was told his development application would only get approved if he agreed not to host any live music outside.
"It was a very, very big reason why I didn't go ahead with this amazing development of the Old Canberra Inn, because it was like, I'm literally putting handcuffs on myself," Mr Johnston said.
"In the beer garden out the front of the Old Canberra Inn, the sound levels on Mouat Street are considerably higher, well over 50 decibels, up to 60 decibels, [and] that's just passing cars."
One of the pub's serial complainers told Mr Johnston a buyer's agent had purchased his apartment for him, and he hadn't realised it was next to the inn.
ACT Night-Time Economy Minister Tara Cheyne told a Legislative Assembly inquiry into the night-time economy in early May that noise concerns were a priority for her.
"I know you've talked lots and probably have lots of questions about order of occupancy and what is an appropriate noise level in different areas," she said.
A ministerial spokesperson said the ACT government had committed to examining town centres and other areas across the ACT that were suitable to be defined as entertainment precincts.
"ACT government has also committed to implementing further night-time economy reforms to support Canberra's musicians and artists, and the venues that back them. This includes investigating reforms relating to the management of "vexatious" noise complaints against venues and consideration of the order of occupancy," the spokesperson said.
Gang Gang Cafe co-owner Sam Conway also told the Legislative Assembly inquiry he put "so much effort" into public consultation with the venue's neighbours, including giving them free tickets to events.
The Downer cafe and music venue backs onto blocks of apartments and a sports field, and hosts a mix of music gigs, comedy nights and festivals.
"You're really operating on this goodwill and trust and hope that they're going to support the activities, and all it takes is for one person to decide that they're done, and there's no protection," he said.
Data from Access Canberra shows the city centre received the highest number of music-related noise complaints between January 2024 and April 2026 with eight, followed by Chisholm with seven and Moncrieff with six.
Braddon, which historically has drawn many noise complaints, only recorded five reports of loud music-related noise.
Lyneham, where the Old Canberra Inn is situated, recorded three complaints. Access Canberra recorded 194 complaints over the timeframe.
An Access Canberra spokesperson said the data showed all complaints potentially related to music, including music from residential properties, private events, commercial premises and other activities, in addition to any live music venues.
"Counts reflect the number of reports received, not unique locations or incidents. Multiple complaints may relate to the same address or ongoing issue, which can result in higher counts in particular suburbs," the spokesperson said.
In the ACT, authorities can take action based on one noise complaint, whereas NSW recently changed its legislation to a threshold of five complaints.
