Submissions invited on updated central city noise rules
Christchurch City Council Newsline: 16th June 2026
Christchurch City Council is inviting submissions on a proposed plan change aimed at better managing noise in the central city.
Plan Change 21 proposes updates to the District Plan’s central city noise rules to strike a balance between protecting residents from excessive noise and enabling hospitality, entertainment, and live music venues to thrive.
The proposal has been updated since a draft version was consulted on last year, when there was very strong overall support (87 per cent) for the direction of the plan change.
Council Head of Planning and Consents Mark Stevenson says the proposal reflects the growing complexity of the central city as more people choose to live there alongside established nightlife and entertainment.
“Ōtautahi’s central city is evolving, with more residents, more visitors, and a strong focus on creating a lively, attractive destination,” Mr Stevenson says.
“This plan change is about getting the balance right – supporting the energy and vibrancy that venues bring, while making sure people who live here can get a good night’s sleep.
“We want Christchurch to have a thriving night-time economy, and we also want people to choose to live in the central city.”
Mr Stevenson says feedback on the draft plan change has helped refine how and where the proposed rules would apply.
“We heard clearly from the community that we needed to carefully consider where higher noise levels are appropriate,” he says.
“As a result, we’ve made a number of targeted changes to better protect residential areas, while still providing flexibility for venues to operate and grow.”
The central city, within the four avenues, is intended to accommodate a wide mix of uses, including hospitality and entertainment, alongside a growing residential population. This has led to increased tension in recent years, particularly around night-time noise.
Plan Change 21 proposes to keep the current three-category approach to noise management but expands the areas where higher noise limits apply, increases permissible noise levels in some areas, and introduces updated sound insulation requirements to help manage impacts.
In general, higher night-time noise levels for entertainment activities are proposed in areas around Cathedral Square, near One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha, and in commercial areas that already support clusters of venues. Most of these areas are already subject to sound insulation requirements for residential and other noise-sensitive activities.
Changes following earlier feedback
Key changes since last year’s draft plan change include:
- Victoria Street area: The current pattern largely remains, with the Victoria Street ‘spine’ staying a mixed-use (Category 2) area, while nearby residential streets have lower noise limits (Category 3).
- Residential areas near the stadium: Proposed higher-noise areas have been scaled back, with residentially zoned areas staying in the lowest noise category (Category 3) to reflect existing housing without modern insulation.
- Buffer areas near the stadium: Adjustments introduce more gradual transitions between busy entertainment areas and quieter residential areas.
- Additional central city block: The block between Colombo, Tuam, St Asaph, and Manchester streets has been added to the highest noise category (Category 1), to consolidate the overall Category 1 area and to reflect the block’s commercial use and lack of residential activity.
- Arts Centre surroundings: Two nearby blocks are included in a higher category (Category 2), to help support the re-establishment of entertainment uses while providing a buffer to nearby quieter areas.
The Council will also apply to the Environment Court to give interim legal effect to sound insulation and ventilation rules proposed for two small areas in the central city.
The court application aims to ensure those rules apply to any new noise-sensitive activities in the areas while Plan Change 21 moves through the statutory process.
Find out more about the proposed changes to Central City noise, including how to make a submission before 18th July 2026.