Noise Control

What the City is Doing to Reduce Noise The City will be taking the lead and implementing the following actions:

• Updating operating procedures and equipment choices to favour less noisy options.
• Creating programs that will deter unnecessarily impactful noise-generating activities and promote good contractor behaviour.
• Transitioning City vehicles to include broadband backup alarms that direct sound behind the vehicle instead of the surrounding area.
• Switching to electric lawn maintenance equipment for emission and noise reduction.
• Developing a strategy to support a large-scale transition to electric City vehicles.
• Designing streets that encourage slower speeds to reduce acceleration and deceleration, and conducting public education about driving-related noise mitigation.
• Implementing a noise monitoring pilot program to identify trends in real-time and how levels are changing over time to help with future transportation, building and planning processes.
• Undertaking a communications campaign to educate the community on noise-related issues and how to report noise, as well as encouraging a common courtesy approach between neighbours on private property.

Dogs, birds or other pets should not cause excessive or unreasonable amount of noise. Continuous or sporadic animal noise in excess of 30 minutes is considered an objectionable or disturbing sound.

Permitted construction hours are between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays and between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday. View the Construction Activity Hours handout.

Construction is prohibited on Sundays and Holidays, where 'Holiday' is defined in Bylaw 8885 as:

"New Year’s Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, British Columbia Day, Labour Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day, and any other holiday prescribed by Provincial Legislation".

It may be possible to receive a "Noise Exemption by Permission" to the bylaw if certain conditions are met. Any exemption to the Noise Control Bylaw will require community notification as outlined in the bylaw. Complete an Application for Construction Noise Exemption.

The sound generated by Garden and Building Maintenance equipment is permitted during the following times only:

1. between the hours of 7:00am and 8:00pm Monday through Friday;
2. between the hours 9:00am and 7:00pm Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Decibel limits and limits on use of equipment such as lawn mowers, leaf blowers, or other equipment, are outlined in the Noise Control Bylaw.

Noise generated by people, including yelling, loud or amplified music, and vehicle engine revving must not cause an unreasonable disturbance.

Decibel limits on vehicles are defined in the Noise Control Bylaw.

• The audible sound of a vehicle security system which is made either continuously, or intermittently, for a period exceeding one minute; or which produces a false alarm activating more than three times in a 24 hour period, is considered an "objectionable or disturbing sound".
• A horn or other warning device on a vehicle should be used only for the purpose of giving an audible warning for safety purposes.