Environmental Noise Control Guidelines

Planning and Growth Management Department - City of Ottawa

PDF Version [1.71 MB]

Approved by City Council on May 10, 2006

Prepared By
SS Wilson Associates
Consulting Engineers

Executive Summary

The Environmental Noise Control Guidelines (ENCG) are an important tool for implementation of the City’s policies on environmental noise contained in the Official Plan. The ENCG are to be used as a technical manual by the City as well as by the development and consulting industries when dealing with issues involving all sources of environmental noise in the planning and development process.

The development approval process requires assessments and studies to be completed to ensure land use compatibility and to protect noise-sensitive land uses. The type of noise assessments and studies required will vary depending on the proposed land use and the noise source. The ENCG provide guidance on how the environmental noise policies in Section 4.8 of the Official Plan will be implemented.

The services of a specialized Acoustic Consulting Engineering firm (SS Wilson Associates) was retained by the City to prepare the ENCG. The new ENCG is a consolidation and harmonization of all existing City of Ottawa noise control guidelines and they replace the guidelines of the former Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton (RMOC).

The new ENCG are primarily based on Ministry of Environment (MOE) policies, guidelines and procedures aimed at providing guidance on noise assessment in land use planning. These new guidelines are consistent with all provincial policies (i.e. Provincial Policy Statement, Environmental Protection Act and Municipal Act), and other relevant provincial guidelines.

The ENCG are divided into three sections:

1. Environmental Noise Control Guidelines for New Land Use Planning

This section includes procedures to address new noise-sensitive land uses in proximity to air and surface transportation corridors as well as new noise-sensitive land uses in proximity to sources of stationary noise. It also includes procedures to address new potential sources of stationary noise in proximity to existing noise-sensitive land uses.

2. Environmental Noise Control Guidelines for Capital Works Projects (Surface Transportation Corridors)

This section includes procedures to address Capital Works projects involving surface transportation corridors owned by the City in proximity to existing noise-sensitive land uses (roads, bus Transitway and light rail)

3. Environmental Noise Control Guidelines for Local Improvements Along City Surface Transportation Corridors

This section addresses the technical guidelines for retrofit noise attenuation along City surface transportation corridors.

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