Odour complaints

When investigating an odour complaint, Brisbane City Council considers the:

• amount of odour being emitted
• duration and rate of emission and the odour's characteristics and qualities
• sensitivity of the environment into which the odour is being emitted and the impact that it has had or may have
• views of any other neighbours or complainants.

Ways you can reduce odour emissions include:

• keep your property tidy and don't allow vegetation or rubbish to accumulate
• consider weather conditions before starting work that will create odour, for example when using fertiliser
• enclose or cover compost bins and piles of vegetation.

Backyard burning is not allowed in Brisbane City Council area.

Download the: 

• Managing air and odour pollution in our community fact sheet (PDF - 374kb)
• Managing air and odour pollution in our community fact sheet (Word - 105kb)
• Living with mangroves fact sheet (PDF - 5.5Mb)
• Living with mangroves fact sheet (Word - 873kb).

How to lodge a complaint

Find out how to lodge a complaint about an environmental nuisance issue.