Are construction sites legally required to monitor vibration at the boundary?

There’s no blanket law saying every construction site must monitor vibration. However, vibration monitoring becomes a legal requirement when it’s written into:

• Planning conditions,

• Section 61 consents, or

• Construction environmental management plans agreed with local authorities.

If vibration is expected to be significant — for example, near homes or heritage buildings — councils often insist on monitoring as part of the planning approval. In that case, monitoring isn’t optional; it’s mandatory.

Even where monitoring isn’t required, many contractors still do it. It gives objective evidence that they’re working responsibly and protects them if complaints arise.