At a Glance
This article explains how to host a party in a strata home while staying considerate of neighbours and complying with NSW by-laws. It covers noise expectations, neighbour notifications, the use of common areas, guest behaviour, and simple steps to avoid complaints or disruption.
Updated November 2025 to reflect NSW strata by-laws on noise, behaviour and use of common property.
Celebrating at home is one of life’s great pleasures — but in a strata building, you share your walls, floors and communal areas with others, which means a little extra care goes a long way. The good news? With the right preparation, you can absolutely host birthdays, dinners and special occasions without complaints, tension or post-party dramas.
This guide will help you understand how to celebrate responsibly, stay within your building’s by-laws and maintain harmony with the neighbours who live closest to you.
1. Start by Reviewing Your Building’s By-Laws
Before you organise anything, have a quick look at your strata by-laws. These outline what is and isn’t permitted in your scheme and can prevent avoidable issues on the night.
By-laws commonly cover:
- Noise restrictions, particularly after 10pm
- Use of balconies, courtyards, rooftops and BBQ areas
- Smoking or vaping rules
- Maximum guest numbers in common spaces
- Requirements to keep hallways, stairwells and fire exits clear
- Visitor parking rules and limits
If you’re not sure where your by-laws are kept, you can log into MyPortal by SMATA or our friendly team can provide you a copy. You can also read more about strata by-laws here.
Reviewing them now avoids surprises later.
2. Give Your Neighbours a Friendly Heads-Up
Good communication is the simplest way to prevent complaints. Letting neighbours know about your gathering sets expectations and shows respect for the community you share.
A quick note, text message or friendly chat a few days beforehand can mention:
- The date of your gathering
- Approximate start and end times
- That you’ll keep noise reasonable
- Your mobile number, in case they need to reach you
If you’re using a shared area or expecting more guests, it’s also helpful to let your building manager or committee know. You no longer need to register parties with NSW Police, but giving relevant people a heads-up helps the night run smoothly.
3. Manage Parking and Visitor Access
Parking issues are one of the most common reasons celebrations become stressful in strata buildings.
Keep things simple by:
- Reminding guests to use street parking or rideshare services
- Avoiding use of residents-only or reserved visitor spaces unless permitted
- Ensuring no one blocks driveways, garages or fire egress
- Asking guests not to tailgate into the building
A little planning here prevents security concerns and neighbour frustration.
4. Be Courteous in Common Areas
Shared spaces belong to the whole building, so small considerations can make a big difference.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Ask guests to speak quietly in hallways or lifts when arriving and leaving
- Move celebrations indoors later in the evening — balconies can amplify noise
- Follow smoking and vaping restrictions
- Never prop open security doors
- Clean up any spills, bottles or rubbish before the night ends
- If you’re near a pool, use plastic cups and ensure children are supervised
Your neighbours will appreciate your care.
5. Morning-After Etiquette: A Quick Reset
A simple morning walkthrough helps prevent complaints and keeps your building pleasant for everyone.
Check:
- Hallways, lifts and foyers for bottles, decorations or spills
- Bin rooms for overflow or incorrectly sorted rubbish
- Balcony areas for cigarette butts or items that may have blown off in the wind
- That noise-sensitive furniture or equipment moved during the party is returned to normal places
If a neighbour raises a concern, thank them for letting you know and reassure them it won’t be a recurring issue. A calm response maintains good community relationships.
6. Know When to Contact Emergency Services and When Not To
It can be confusing to know who to call if issues arise.
Our 24/7 Emergency Repairs & Maintenance team is only for urgent building-related issues, such as:
- Major water leaks
- Fire panel faults
- Security risks
- Essential services failure (lifts, garage doors, access systems)
Noise and behaviour complaints are not emergencies.
If noise becomes unreasonable and a polite conversation hasn’t resolved it, NSW Police can provide support via the non-emergency line.
A Celebration That Strengthens Your Community
Hosting a party in a strata building isn’t about following strict rules — it’s about being considerate, informed and mindful of the people who share your space. With a little communication and preparation, you can enjoy your celebration confidently, knowing you’re doing your part to keep your building peaceful and neighbourly.
If you ever need help understanding your by-laws or how they apply to your event, the Jamesons team is here to support you.
At the end of the day, our goal is simple: to leave your building in a better place and help you feel happier at home.
