Noise (By-law No. 2017-255)

• 2019-171
• 2020-199
• 2022-127
• 2022-227
• 2022-355
• 2022-391

A by-law of the City of Ottawa respecting noises.

WHEREAS it is in the public interest to reduce the noise level in the City of Ottawa, so as to preserve, protect and promote public health, safety, welfare and peace and quiet of the inhabitants of the City;

THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Ottawa enacts as follows:

• Ringing a bell, blowing a horn or shouting or causing unusual noise in a manner that disturbs inhabitants of the City is an offence. This does not apply to the ringing of bells in connection with a religious service.
• Fines range from $400 to $10,000 per offence.
• Snow Removal and Snow Clearing are exempt from the Noise By-law (2017-255). The provisions of this by-law shall not apply to snow clearing or snow removal activities. This includes plowing, salting, and removing snow banks. This means that snow removal/clearing may take place 24/7 on private or public property by residents or contractors.

In this by-law;

“agricultural operation” means an agricultural, aquacultural, horticultural or silvicultural operation that is carried on in the expectation of gain or monetary reward;

“agricultural processing” includes sawing, cleaning, treating, grading and packaging to the extent that these activities relate to products primarily from and are conducted as a part of an agricultural operation;

“bass noise” means any low frequency sound which may be audible or otherwise felt as vibration;

“By-law Officer” means a person appointed by the Council of the City of Ottawa as a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer to enforce the provisions of this by-law;

“car alarm” means any audible device installed in any form of vehicle for the purposes of deterring theft of, or from, the vehicle;

“Chief of Police” means the Chief of Police of the Ottawa Police Service or authorized representative;

“City” means the municipal corporation of the City of Ottawa or the geographic area of the City of Ottawa as the context requires;

“City Construction Project” means a significant construction project undertaken by the City or on behalf of the City which involves or affects City highways, City property or other property, or City services, and from which noise will be created that requires an exemption from the provisions of this by-law;

“Confederation Line Project” means those sections of the existing or future right-of-way between the Tunney’s Pasture and Blair Rapid Transit Stations that are to be utilised, or are utilised, for light rail transit as approved by City Council, and includes the following components:

1. railway tracks;
2. guideways;
3. overhead catenary system;
4. underground tunnel;
5. access shafts;
6. maintenance and storage facilities (MSF);
7. associated access tracks;
8. staging areas;
9. stations; and
10. all associated infrastructure and facilities required for its construction;

“construction” includes erection, alteration, repair, dismantling, demolition, structural maintenance, land clearing, earth moving, grading, excavating, the laying of pipe and conduit whether above or below ground level, street and highway building, application of concrete, equipment installation and alteration and the structural installation of construction components and materials in any form or for any purpose, and includes any work in connection therewith;

“construction equipment” means any equipment or device designed and intended for use in construction, or material handling, including but not limited to, hand tools, power tools, air compressors, pile drivers, pneumatic or hydraulic tools, bulldozers, tractors, excavators, trenchers, cranes, derricks, loaders, scrapers, pavers, generators, off-highway haulers or trucks, ditchers, compactors and rollers, pumps, concrete mixers, graders, or other material handling equipment;

“containerized waste” means waste deposited in a front-end loading container for collection;

“dB(A)” means the sound level in decibels obtained when using a sound level meter with the A-weighting;

“effective muffler” means a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise and excessive smoke, but it does not include a cut-out muffler, straight exhaust, gutted muffler, Hollywood muffler, by-pass or similar device.

“equivalent sound level", sometimes denoted as Leq, means the value of the constant sound level which would result in exposure to the same total A-weighted energy as would the specified time-varying sound, if the constant sound level persisted over an equal time interval and is measured in dB(A);

“highway” means a common and public highway and includes any bridge, trestle, viaduct or other structure forming part of the highway and, except as otherwise provided, includes a portion of the highway;

“infill housing” means a development that occurs on a single lot, or a consolidated number of small lots or sites that are vacant or underdeveloped;

“Manager of By-law & Regulatory Services” means the person occupying the position of the Manager of By-law & Regulatory Services in the Emergency and Protective Services Department of the City of Ottawa or authorized representative;

“motor assisted bicycle” means a bicycle,

1. that is fitted with pedals that are operable at all times to propel the bicycle
2. that weighs not more than fifty-five (55) kilograms;
3. that has no hand or foot operated clutch or gearbox driven by the motor and transferring power to the driven wheel;
4. that has an attached motor driven by electricity or having a piston displacement of not more than fifty (50) cubic centimetres; and
5. that does not have sufficient power to enable the bicycle to attain a speed greater than fifty (50) kilometres per hour on level ground within a distance of two (2) kilometres from a standing start;

“motorcycle” means a self-propelled vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the driver and designed to travel on not more than three (3) wheels in contact with the ground, and includes a motor scooter, but does not include a motor assisted bicycle;

“motor vehicle” includes an automobile, motorcycle, motor assisted bicycle unless otherwise indicated in the Highway Traffic Act, and any other vehicle propelled or driven otherwise than by muscular power, but does not include a streetcar or other motor vehicles running only upon rails, or a motorized snow vehicle, traction engine, farm tractor, self-propelled implement of husbandry or road-building machine within the meaning of the Highway Traffic Act;

“municipal waste collection” means the collection, transportation and disposal of refuse as undertaken by the City of Ottawa or its sub-contractors;

“noise level in dB(A) units” means the reading of any precision sound level meter which meets the International Electrotechnical Commission Publication 651 or the American National Standards Institute S1.4-1983 or any successor thereto;

“person” includes an individual, a corporation, a partnership, an association, or other legal entity;

“point of reception” means any point on the premises of a person where sound or vibration originating from other than those premises are received;

“refuse compacting equipment” means a vehicle fitted in order to compact and transport refuse;

“solid waste bulk lift equipment” means a vehicle designed to load, unload and transport containers for handling refuse;

“sound amplifying system” means any system of loudspeakers, amplifiers, microphones or reproducers or any combination of such equipment, including electronic devices or electro-mechanical transducers, used in the reproduction or amplification of music, speech or other sounds;

“sound reproduction device” means a device intended primarily for the production or reproduction of sound, including, but not limited to, any musical instrument, radio receiver, television receiver, tape recorder, phonograph or sound amplifying system;

“special event” includes a demonstration, parade, sports event, festival, carnival, donation station, street dance, residential block party, sidewalk sale, outdoor mass and other like events;

“vehicle” includes a motor vehicle, trailer, traction engine, farm tractor, road building machine, motorcycle, bicycle and any vehicle drawn, propelled or driven by any kind of power, including muscular power, but does not include a motorized snow vehicle, or the cars of electric or steam railways running only upon rails.

No person shall cause or permit any bass noise, unusual noise or noise likely to disturb the inhabitants of the City.

No person shall cause or permit the ringing of any bell, sounding of any horn, or shouting in a manner likely to disturb the inhabitants of the City provided that nothing herein contained shall prevent,

1. the ringing of bells in connection with any church, chapel, meeting house or religious service
2. the ringing of bells in connection with City Hall between 0900 hours and 2100 hours of the same day;
3. the ringing of fire bells or fire alarms or the making of any other noise for the purpose of giving notice of fire or any other danger or any unlawful act, other than a car alarm, for a continuous period of time of twenty (20) minutes or less.
4. the sounding of a car alarm for a continuous period of time of five (5) minutes or less.

1. No person shall operate or use or cause to be operated or used any sound reproduction device between 2300 hours of one day and 0700 hours of the next day so as to disturb the peace and comfort of,
   1. any person in any dwelling house, apartment house, hotel or other type of residence; or
   2. any owner or operator of a business in his or her place of business.
2. Despite subsection (1), no person shall operate or use or cause to be operated or used any sound reproduction device so as to disturb the peace and comfort of:
   1. any person in any dwelling house, apartment house, hotel or other type of residence before 0900 hours on any Saturday; or
   2. any person in any dwelling house, apartment house, hotel or other type of residence before 1200 hours on any Sunday or statutory or public holiday; or
   3. any owner or operator of a business in his or her place of business before 0900 hours on any Saturday; or
   4. any owner or operator of a business in his or her place of business before 1200 hours on any Sunday or statutory or public holiday.
3. No person shall operate or use or cause to be operated or used any sound reproduction device in any dwelling house, apartment house, hotel or other residence between 0700 hours and 2300 hours of the same day, the noise from which sound reproduction device:
   1. is clearly audible in another dwelling within the said residence; and
   2. has an equivalent sound level (Leq) greater than 45 dB(A) when measured in another dwelling within the said residence.
4. On any Sunday or statutory or public holiday, the provisions of subsection (3) shall not come into effect until after 1200 hours.
5. No person shall operate or use or cause to be operated or used any sound reproduction device on any highway or other public place.
6. No person shall operate or use or cause to be operated or used any sound reproduction device originating from or in connection with the operation of any commercial establishment between 0700 hours and 2300 hours of the same day, the noise from which sound reproduction device when measured in any business, dwelling house, apartment house, hotel or any other type of residence has an equivalent sound level (Leq) greater than 45 dB(A).
7. No person shall operate or cause to be operated or used any sound reproduction device between 0700 hours and 2300 hours of the same day, the noise from which sound reproduction device has an equivalent sound level (Leq) greater than 55 dB(A) when measured outside of the business, dwelling house, apartment house, hotel or other residence, at or inside the property line of the business owner or person whose peace and comfort has been disturbed.
8. The provisions of subsections (6) or (7) shall not apply where circumstances are such that an infraction is covered by subsections (1), (2), (3) or (4) and those subsections shall prevail.
9. Subsections (5), (6) or (7) do not apply to prevent,
   1. the use of sound reproduction devices in the City’s parks provided that the user has a permit from or the written permission of the City to do so and the user otherwise complies with the provisions of this by-law;
   2. the amplification of the sound of the ringing of bells or the playing of chimes in connection with:
      1. any church, chapel, meeting house or religious service, or
      2. City Hall between 0900 hours and 2100 hours of the same day;
   3. the use of sound reproduction devices in a reasonable manner for parades or special events carried on under the authority of a permit pursuant to By-law No. 2001-260, the Special Events By-law or any successor thereto, or in accordance with the law;
   4. the use of sound reproduction devices in a reasonable manner for any social, recreational, community or athletic activity approved on a highway pursuant to the provisions of By-law No. 2003-530, the Traffic and Parking By-law, or any successor thereto; or
   5. the use of musical instruments by street musicians on the highway or other public place, provided that the use is not liable to disturb the peace, enjoyment and comfort or convenience of individuals or the public.
10. Assessment of noise complaints may be undertaken at the point of reception of the noise for the purposes of confirming a violation.

No person shall use or operate or cause to be used or operated any air conditioner, heat pump, compressor, condenser, chiller, cooling tower or similar device, the noise from which has a level greater than 50 dB(A) when measured at the point of reception.

1. No person shall use or operate or cause to be used or operated any exhaust fan, exhaust system, intake fan, generators, dryer in a commercial car wash or similar device which includes combustion exhaust of a high efficiency furnace, the noise from which has a level greater than 50 dB(A) when measured at the point of reception.
2. Subsection (1) does not apply to a person using or operating a portable generator in a residential area in an emergency situation.

No person shall use or operate or cause to be used or operated any pump, filtration system or similar device for an outdoor swimming pool, hot tub, spa fountain or water feature, the noise from which has a level greater than 50 dB(A) when measured at the point of reception.

1. No person shall operate or cause to be operated any power equipment such as chainsaws, power lawnmowers, leaf blowers, power tools or other similar devices, between 2100 hours of one day and 0700 hours of the next day, the noise from which disturbs or tends to disturb the inhabitants of the neighbourhood, or persons in the vicinity.
2. Despite subsection (1), no person shall operate or cause to be operated any power equipment before 0900 hours on any Saturday, Sunday, statutory or public holiday.
3. Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to a person operating power equipment used for the purpose of maintaining a golf course.

1. No person shall use or operate or cause to be used or operated high vacuum (H-Vac) devices, street sweeping equipment or other similar devices between 2300 hours of one day and 0700 hours of the next day, the noise from which disturbs or tends to disturb the inhabitants of the neighbourhood, or persons in the vicinity.
2. Despite subsection (1), no person shall use or operate high vacuum (H-Vac) devices, street sweeping equipment or other similar devices before 0900 on any Sunday or statutory or public holiday.

1. No person shall cause or permit the operation of:
   1. refuse compacting equipment; or
   2. solid waste bulk lift equipment, between 2300 hours of one day and 0700 hours of the next day so as to make or cause noises that disturb, or tend to disturb, the inhabitants of the neighbourhood, or persons in the vicinity.
2. Despite subsection (1), no person shall cause or permit the loading or unloading of containerized waste before 0900 hours on any Sunday or statutory or public holiday.
3. The provisions of subsections (1) and (2) shall not apply to:
   1. municipal waste collection; and
   2. the Central Area of the City as described in Schedule “B” attached hereto.

1. No person shall cause or permit the delivery of any goods, wares, merchandise or commodities from any vehicle to the owner, lessee, tenant or occupier of any premises between the hours of 2300 hours of one day and 0700 hours of the next day and which delivery disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of the neighbourhood or of persons in the vicinity.
2. The provisions of subsection (1) shall not apply to all that area of the City bounded on the east by the east limit of Dalhousie Street, on the south by the south limit of Rideau Street, on the west by the west limit of Sussex Drive and on the north by the south limit of Murray Street.

1. No person shall cause or permit the loading or unloading of any transport truck, moving van or motor vehicle between 2300 hours of one day and 0700 hours of the next day so as to make or cause noises that disturb, or tend to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of the neighbourhood or of persons in the vicinity.
2. The provisions of subsection (1) shall not apply to all that area of the City bounded on the east by the east limit of Dalhousie Street, on the south by the south limit of Rideau Street, on the west by the west limit of Sussex Drive and on the north by the south limit of Murray Street.

1. No person shall, between 2200 hours of one day and 0700 hours of the next day, operate or cause to be operated any construction vehicle or construction equipment in connection with the construction of any building or structure, highway, motor car, steam boiler or other engine or machine.
2. Despite subsection (1), no person shall operate or cause to be operated any construction vehicle or construction equipment before 0900 hours on any Sunday or statutory or public holiday.
3. Despite subsections (1) and (2), no person shall operate or cause to be operated any construction vehicle or construction equipment between 1000 hours and 1200 hours of the same day on the 11th day of November in the area within the boundaries described as follows:

COMMENCING at the intersection of Wellington Street and O’Connor Street and proceeding in an easterly direction on Wellington Street and Rideau Street to MacKenzie Avenue;

THENCE proceeding in a northerly direction on MacKenzie Avenue a distance of 201 metres;

THENCE easterly to and along York Street to William Street;

THENCE southerly on William Street to Rideau Street;

THENCE easterly on Rideau Street to Nicholas Street;

THENCE southerly on Nicholas Street to Laurier Avenue;

THENCE westerly on Laurier Avenue to O’Connor Street;

THENCE northerly on O’Connor Street to the said point of commencement.

1. Section 13 does not apply to construction in connection with infill housing, and the following subsections shall apply.
2. No person shall, between 2000 hours of one day and 0700 hours of the next day, operate or cause to be operated any construction vehicle or construction equipment in connection with infill housing.
3. No person shall, between 1900 hours of one day and 0900 hours of the next day on any Saturday, Sunday or statutory or public holiday, operate or cause to be operated any construction vehicle or construction equipment in connection with infill housing.

1.  
   1. Despite subsection 13(1), tunnel construction work for the Confederation Line Project occurring three (3) metres and deeper below the immediate ground surface using tunneling, sequential excavation or other similar tunnel construction techniques is permitted between 2200 hours of one day and 0700 hours of the next day.
   2. No person shall perform or cause to be performed the tunnel construction work referred to in clause (a) if the noise from such construction has a level greater than 60 dBA when measured at the point of reception.
2.  
   1. Despite subsection 13(2), construction vehicles or construction equipment used for construction of the Confederation Line Project shall be permitted to operate before 0900 hours on any Sunday or statutory or public holiday for work performed three (3) metres or below the immediate ground surface using tunneling, sequential excavation, or other similar tunnel construction techniques.
   2. No person shall operate or use, or permit to be operated or used, any construction vehicle or construction equipment as described in clause (a) if the noise from such operation or use has a level greater than 60 dBA when measured at the point of reception.
3.  
   1. Despite subsection 12(1), transport trucks or vehicles may be used the between 2300 hours of one day and 0700 hours of the next day to haul, load or unload material in support of the tunnel construction for the Confederation Line Project.
   2. No person shall operate or use, or permit to be operated or used, any transport trucks or vehicles as described in clause (a) if the noise from such operation or use has a level greater than 60 dBA when measured at the point of reception.
4.  
   1. Despite subsection 8(1), power equipment for the Confederation Line Project shall be permitted to operate between 2100 hours of one day and 0700 hours of the next day to support tunnel excavation work performed three (3) metres and deeper below the immediate ground surface using tunneling, sequential excavation or other similar tunnel construction techniques.
   2. No person shall operate or use, or permit to be operated or used, any power equipment as described in clause (a) if the noise from such operation or use has a level greater than 60 dBA when measured at the point of reception.
5.  
   1. Despite subsection 8(2), power equipment for the Confederation Line Project shall be permitted to operate before 0900 hours on any Saturday, Sunday or statutory or public holiday, to support tunnel excavation work performed three (3) metres and deeper below the immediate ground surface using tunneling, sequential excavation or other similar tunnel construction techniques.
   2. No person shall operate or use, or permit to be operated or used, any power equipment as described in clause (a) if the noise from such operation or use has a level greater than 60 dBA when measured at the point of reception.

No person shall cause or permit unnecessary motor vehicle noise such as the sounding of the horn, revving of engine and the squealing of tires of any motor vehicle on any property other than a highway.

1. No person shall operate or permit the operation of an engine or motor in, or on, any motor vehicle or item of attached auxiliary equipment for a continuous period exceeding five (5) minutes while such vehicle is stationary, unless,
   1. the vehicles are operated by OC Transpo, Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO), and Para Transpo in the course of providing transit service;
   2. the vehicles are operated by a private bus transportation company in the course of providing transportation services, and the vehicles are carrying passengers;
   3. operation of such engine or motor is essential to the basic function of the vehicle or equipment, including but not limited to, operation of ready-mixed concrete trucks, lift platforms and refuse compactors; or
   4. weather conditions justify the use of heating or refrigerating systems powered by the motor or engine for the safety and welfare of the operator, passengers or animals, or the preservation of perishable cargo, and the vehicle is stationary for purposes of actively loading or unloading.
2. Subsection (1) shall not apply to occupied motor vehicles when the temperature outside the motor vehicle is greater than twenty-seven degrees Celsius (27°C) including the humidex calculation or less than five degrees Celsius (5°C) including the wind chill value as determined by the Environment Canada temperature readings.

No person shall discharge into the open air, on any property other than a highway, the exhaust of any motor vehicle except through a muffler or other device which effectively prevents loud or explosive noises.

1. No person shall operate or permit the operation of racing competitions between motor vehicles on a property other than a highway within the City, whether or not an admission fee is charged, unless,
   1. the competitions are held at a permanent facility;
   2. all motor vehicles are properly equipped with effective mufflers;
   3. such competitions are not carried out between 2300 hours of one day and 1000 hours of the next day.
2. Subsection (1) shall not apply to permanent go-kart operations on a property other than a highway.

No person shall operate or permit the operation of go-kart activities on a property other than a highway within the City, whether or not an admission fee is charged, unless,

1. the activities are held at a permanent go-kart facility;
2. all go-karts are equipped with effective mufflers; and
3. such activities are not carried out between 2300 hours of one day and 0700 hours of the next day.

1. The provisions of this by-law shall not apply to the City or any local board thereof, the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada or any of their agents when the emission of sound is in connection with work undertaken for the immediate health, safety or welfare of the inhabitants of the City.
2. The provisions of this by-law shall not apply to preclude musicians or performers providing outdoor entertainment involving sound reproduction devices during the events staged by the National Capital Commission including Winterlude or Canada Day celebrations.
3. The provisions of this by-law shall not apply to agricultural operations and agricultural processing activities.
4. The provisions of this by-law shall not apply to snow clearing or snow removal activities.
5. The provisions of this by-law shall not apply to the operation of exterior announcements on buses or other authorized vehicles under the jurisdiction and control of OC Transpo, where the announcements notify users of the route and destination, or any other information, in both official languages.

1. The Manager of By-law & Regulatory Services is delegated the authority to grant an exemption in relation to any Section of this by-law, subject to the following conditions:
   1. the exemption is in respect of a City Construction Project;
   2. a requirement that during the exemption period, the noise caused by the particular project for which the exemption is sought does not exceed 85 dB(A) when measured at the point of reception;
   3. public notification of the particulars of the exemption is provided to affected parties by the appropriate General Manager of the City Construction Project; and
   4. the Manager of By-law & Regulatory Services, has notified the Councillor of the Ward or Wards in which the work is to occur of the application for the exemption and, within fourteen (14) days following such notification, no Ward Councillor has communicated an objection to the application.
2. In the event of an objection by any Ward Councillor pursuant to subsection (1), paragraph (d):
   1. the Manager of By-law & Regulatory Services shall not approve the exemption; and
   2. the City staff representative for the project for which the application is sought shall forward the application to the appropriate Standing Committee of Council and Council for determination.  
3. An application for an exemption under subsection (1) shall be made in writing to the Manager of By-law & Regulatory Services at least sixty (60) days prior to the commencement of the activity for which the exemption is sought, and shall include the following:
   1. the name and contact information of the City staff representative associated with the project;
   2. the source of the sound or vibration in respect of which the exemption is sought;
   3. the provision or provisions of this by-law for which the exemption is sought;
   4. the rationale for the exemption;
   5. the date and time of commencement of the activity for which the exemption is sought;
   6. the time of conclusion for each day for the activity for which the 16 exemption is sought;
   7. the duration of activity for which the exemption is sought;
   8. the location of the activity for which the exemption is sought;
   9. the name and contact information of the contact person or persons who will be supervising the activities for which the exemption is sought; and
   10. any other information requested by the Manager of By-law & Regulatory Services.
4. The Manager of By-law & Regulatory Services may require the applicant to provide proof confirming that public notification has been provided to affected partied as required in subsection (1), which may include but are not limited to community associations, business improvement areas and adjacent residents and businesses.
5.  
   1. A noise exemption granted under this Section is subject to review and termination jointly by the Manager of By-law & Regulatory Services and the General Manager, Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development based on complaints received, and on a review of compliance by the contractor with the project requirements, the terms of the contract, or the Noise By-law, and any other relevant consideration relating to the public health and safety and to the public interest.
   2. An automatic review will take place ninety (90) days into a project for which a noise exemption has been granted under this Section.
   3. The termination of an exemption granted under this Section shall be preceded by notification to the Councillor of the Ward or Wards in which the work is to occur.

1. The Manager of By-law & Regulatory Services is delegated the authority to grant an exemption to subsection 13(1) for construction equipment subject to the following conditions:
   1. the use of construction equipment shall not create noise likely to cause a nuisance or disturb the inhabitants or exceed 85 dB(A) when measured at the point of reception;
   2. the use of the construction equipment shall not continue for more 17 than eight (8) hours on any one day;
   3. the duration of the exemption requested shall not exceed eleven (11) calendar days in length; and
   4. the Councillor of the Ward or Wards in which the work is to occur shall be in agreement with granting the exemption.
2. An application for exemption from the provisions of the Noise By-law for construction equipment shall be made in writing to the Manager of By-law & Regulatory Services at least sixty (60) days prior to the commencement of the use of the construction equipment for which the exemption is sought and shall include the following:
   1. the name and address of the applicant;
   2. the name and address of the business represented by the applicant, if applicable;
   3. the source of the sound or vibration in respect of which the exemption is sought;
   4. the provision of this by-law from which the exemption is sought;
   5. the date and time of commencement of the construction for which the exemption is sought;
   6. the time of conclusion for each day for the use of the construction equipment for which the exemption is sought;
   7. the duration of the use of the construction equipment for which the exemption is sought;
   8. the location of the construction for which the exemption is sought;
   9. rationale for granting an exemption;
   10. the name of the contact person or persons who will be supervising the use of the construction equipment; and
   11. payment of the application fee as described on Schedule “A”.
3. The Manager of By-law & Regulatory Services may require the applicant to provide documentation confirming that notification of the use of construction equipment has been given to the affected parties including but not limited to community associations, business improvement areas and adjacent residents and businesses.
4. Where the Manager of By-law & Regulatory Services requires monitoring of sound levels resulting from the construction, the monitoring shall be conducted at the applicant’s expense as outlined in Schedule “A” attached hereto.

1. The Manager of By-law & Regulatory Services is delegated the authority to grant an exemption for an event subject to the following conditions:
   1. the event relates to live or recorded music or involves the use of a sound amplifying system or sound reproduction device operated in a reasonable manner in the context of the special event;
   2. the event shall not create noise likely to cause a nuisance or disturb the inhabitants or exceed 65 dB(A) when measured at the point of reception;
   3. the event shall not exceed eleven (11) calendar days in length;
   4. the time at which the event is to be terminated shall be agreed to by the Councillor of the Ward or Wards in which the event is to occur, the Manager of By-law & Regulatory Services and the applicant, and the event shall not continue beyond 0100 hours on Friday and Saturday and on Sunday only if the following Monday is a statutory holiday;
   5. an event shall not continue beyond 2300 hours on Sunday through Thursday; and
   6. the Councillor of the Ward or Wards in which the event is to occur shall be in agreement with granting the exemption.
2. An application for exemption from the provisions of the Noise By-law shall be made in writing to the Manager of By-law & Regulatory Services at least sixty (60) days prior to the event for which the exemption is sought and shall include the following:
   1. the name and address of the applicant;
   2. the name and address of the organization represented by the applicant, if applicable;
   3. the source of the sound or vibration in respect of which the exemption is sought;
   4. the provision of this by-law from which the exemption is sought;
   5. the date and time of commencement of the event for which the exemption is sought;
   6. the time of conclusion for each day of the event for which the exemption is sought;
   7. the duration of the event for which the exemption is sought;
   8. the location of the event for which the exemption is sought;
   9. rationale for granting an exemption, the name of the contact person or persons who will be supervising the event; and
   10. payment of the application fee as described on Schedule “A”.
3. The Manager of By-law & Regulatory Services may require the applicant to provide documentation confirming that notification of the event has been given to the affected parties including but not limited to community associations, business improvement areas and adjacent residents and businesses.
4. Where the Manager of By-law & Regulatory Services requires monitoring of sound levels resulting from the event or activity, the monitoring shall be conducted at the applicant’s expense as outlined in Schedule “A” attached hereto.
5. Clause (j) of subsection (2) does not apply in respect of an event held by or on behalf of a registered not-for-profit organization or a registered charity, where the event is solely for cultural or religious goals, social welfare, civic improvement, recreation, amateur sport, education, or any other similar community enhancement initiative for any purpose except profit, and where the event is open to the public and no admission is charged.

1. The Manager of By-law & Regulatory Services is delegated the authority to grant an exemption for motor racing competitions at temporary venues subject to the following conditions:
   1. the competition does not exceed three (3) days in length;
   2. the Councillor of the Ward or Wards in which the competition is to occur shall be in agreement with granting the exemption which will include the time of day at which the competition will commence and terminate; and
   3. the motor vehicles shall be equipped with effective mufflers.
2. An application for exemption from the provisions of the Noise By-law for motor racing competition at temporary venues shall be made in writing to the Manager of By-law & Regulatory Services at least sixty (60) days prior to the commencement of the competition for which the exemption is sought and shall include the following:
   1. the name and address of the applicant;
   2. the name and address of the business represented by the applicant, if applicable;
   3. the provision of this by-law from which the exemption is sought;
   4. the date and time of commencement of the competition for which the exemption is sought;
   5. the time of conclusion for each day of the competition;
   6. the duration of the competition for which the exemption is sought;
   7. the location of the competition for which the exemption is sought;
   8. rationale for granting an exemption;
   9. the name of the contact person or persons who will be supervising the competition; and
   10. payment of the application fee as described on Schedule “A”.
3. The Manager of By-law & Regulatory Services may require the applicant to provide documentation confirming that notification of the motor racing competition at a temporary venue has been given to the affected parties including but not limited to community associations, business improvement areas and adjacent residents and businesses.
4. Where the Manager of By-law & Regulatory Services requires monitoring of sound levels resulting from the event or activity, the monitoring shall be conducted at the applicant’s expense as outlined in Schedule “A” attached hereto.

There is no violation of this by-law where the noise levels at the properties municipally known as 933 Gladstone and 1030 Somerset as at October 5, 2022, and successor addresses, resulting from stationary noise sources at the property bounded by Gladstone Avenue, Breezehill Avenue, Laurel Avenue and Loretta Avenue, municipally known as 975 Gladstone as at October 5, 2022, do not exceed the noise levels permitted by the Class 4 designation of 933 Gladstone/1030 Somerset, which noise levels set forth in Schedule “C”. (By-law No. 2022-355)

In respect of the property known as 975 Gladstone, in any instance of noise levels on the property known as 951 Gladstone and 145 Loretta Avenue North, or successor addresses, a violation of this by-law will not be held to have occurred in any instance where this by-law sets a limit of 45 dB(A) or 50 dB(A) and the noise levels at the 951 Gladstone and 145 Loretta Avenue North site resulting from stationary noise sources at 975 Gladstone do not exceed those permitted by the Class 4 designation of 951 Gladstone and 145 Loretta Avenue North. (By-law 2022-391)

1. When a standard sound equivalent level (dB(A)) test cannot be used because ambient noise exceeds the maximum noise limit established for the device, vehicle or equipment to be measured, a differential reading may be used to isolate the level of noise contributed by the device, vehicle or equipment in question as follows:
   1. a noise level reading shall be taken when the device, vehicle or equipment is not in operation;
   2. a noise level reading shall be taken when the device, vehicle or equipment is in operation; and
   3. where the noise level reading calculated in paragraph (b) exceeds the noise level reading calculated in paragraph (a) by 5 dB(A) or more, a noise violation exists.
2. No person shall use or operate or cause to be used or operated any device, vehicle or equipment, the noise from which has a level greater than 5 dB(A) above ambient noise levels, provided that the ambient noise levels are greater than the specified maximum level for the device, vehicle or equipment in question.

This by-law shall be enforced by the Chief of Police or by the By-law Officers of the City.

1. Every person who contravenes any provision of this by-law is guilty of an offence as provided for in subsection 429(1) of the Municipal Act, 2001, and all such offences are designated as continuing offences as provided for in subsection 429(2)(a) of the Municipal Act, 2001.
2. A person who is convicted of an offence under this by-law is liable, for each day or part of a day that the offence continues, to a minimum fine of $500.00 and a maximum fine of $10,000.00, and the total of all daily fines for the offence is not limited to $100,000.00 as provided for in subsection 429(3)2 of the Municipal Act, 2001.
3. When a person has been convicted of an offence under this by-law, the Superior Court of Justice or any court of competent jurisdiction thereafter may, in addition to any penalty imposed on the person convicted, issue an order
   1. prohibiting the continuation or repetition of the offence by the person convicted; and
   2. requiring the person convicted to correct the contravention in the manner and within the period that the court considers appropriate.

1. It is declared that if any section, subsection or part or parts thereof be declared by any Court of Law to be bad, illegal or ultra vires, such section, subsection or part or parts shall be deemed to be severable, and all parts hereof are declared to be separate and independent and enacted as such.
2. In this by-law, a word interpreted in the singular number has a corresponding meaning when used in the plural.
3. Schedules “A” and “B” annexed hereto are hereby declared to form part of this by-law.

By-law No. 2004-253, the Noise By-law, is repealed.

This by-law may be referred to as the Noise By-law.

This by-law shall come into effect on the 30th day of September, 2017.

Enacted and passed this 12th day of July, 2017.

Application Fee $77.00

Inspection/Monitoring Fee $77.00/hour/Officer

(amended by 2023-204)

Map of Central Area - Amended by By-law 2022-227

• Loud noise or shouting
• Barking dogs
• Construction sites or machinery
• Alarms
• Garbage or delivery vehicles
• Aircraft noise
• Discharge of fireworks