Police have declared an emergency in far north Queensland as they negotiate with an armed man, who is holed up in a house.

Officers were called to a home on Hyacinth Close in the Cairns suburb of Edmonton about 6am on Wednesday and the emergency declaration was made just before 9am.

Specialist police and negotiators were speaking with the 42-year-old man, with the incident contained to the main home and adjacent properties.

Residents have been told to stay in their homes and police have closed Hyacinth Close to all traffic at the intersection of Cattleya Close.