How can the owners corporation address the noise from our new pickleball courts?
In this month’s Strata Q&A, we received a question from John M, an owner based in NSW, regarding what the owners corporation can do to limit the noise nuisance coming from their community association’s newly converted pickleball courts. Can they place restrictions on how the court is used? What measures can they take while the courts are in use?
Q. How can the owners corporation address the noise from our new pickleball courts?
I live in a small strata scheme that is part of a very large community association. The community association recently converted 4 of our 6 tennis courts over to pickleball meaning there are now 8 pickleball courts and 2 tennis courts. The result has been a massive uptake in the use of the courts and its really popular, even allowing the local school and sporting clubs to use them (for a fee), but there is now a major noise problem caused by the 'pop' sound of the ball. The courts are used continually from 6 am to 10 pm seven days a week, this is in line with the Community Management Statement’s by-laws.
How can my owners corporation address the noise from our new pickleball courts? Can we restrict the hours of use or take other measures? The courts are driving a lot of residents mad!
A. Shared courts would be considered part of the common property, meaning the community association is responsible for how they are managed — including who can use them, when they can be used, and how noise is controlled.
Pickleball courts can be a fantastic shared facility, but they can also become a major source of frustration when constant noise starts disrupting nearby residents. In NSW community schemes, shared courts would be considered part of the common property, meaning the community association is responsible for how they are managed — including who can use them, when they can be used, and how noise is controlled.
Your association has the power to set reasonable restrictions on court use to balance recreation with residents’ right to quiet enjoyment of their homes. If the noise from pickleball play is excessive or continual — especially from early morning until late at night — it may amount to a nuisance under strata law, and the association has a responsibility to act.
To manage the issue fairly, the association could:
Limit court hours (for example, 8 am–8 pm)
Set quiet periods on weekends or public holidays
Introduce a booking system to prevent constant play
Install acoustic fencing or use quieter paddles and balls
These kinds of steps allow fair use of the facility while protecting nearby residents from ongoing disturbance.
If you’re affected, start by documenting the issue — note the times, duration, and impact of the noise. Raise your concerns formally with your community association and strata committee, ideally with support from other affected owners. The committee can amend by-laws or introduce clear usage rules, but these need to be communicated to all residents and users.
If the problem continues and the association doesn’t take action, you can seek mediation through NSW Fair Trading and, if necessary, apply to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) for orders. The goal is not to stop residents from enjoying pickleball, but to find a fair balance between recreation and peaceful living.
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