Bowen Island noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines
What are the noise rules and quiet hours in Bowen Island?
Short answer
Bowen Island's Noise Control Bylaw bans noise that disturbs neighbours at any hour and sets no fixed quiet hours. Construction noise is banned before 7 a.m. or after 8 p.m. Monday to Friday, and before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays. The first bylaw notice is $50. Call Bylaw Services at 604-947-4255 ext. 2.
Key facts
| General rule | No one may make or allow any noise or sound that disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of the neighbourhood or people nearby. This includes owners letting their property be used that way, animals that call, cry or bark, and amplified sound from premises, vehicles or vessels.Noise Control Bylaw No. 108, 2004, Bowen Island Municipality, s. 2(a)-(d) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingany noise or sound which disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet, peace, No person shall allow any animal in their control or possession which, by its calls, cries, for the production or amplification of sound/music |
|---|---|
| Quiet hours | None set. The Noise Control Bylaw sets no fixed quiet hours for ordinary noise.Read: Noise Control Bylaw No. 108, 2004, Bowen Island Municipality |
| Construction hours | Construction noise is not allowed Monday to Friday before 7 a.m. or after 8 p.m., or on Saturdays, Sundays and other holidays before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m.Noise Control Bylaw No. 108, 2004, Bowen Island Municipality, s. 2(g) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingMonday through Friday, before 0700 and after 2000 hours, Saturday, Sunday and other holidays, before 0900 and after 1800 hours. |
| Other limits | Schedule A lists dogs or other animals making noise for more than 15 minutes, car, security or fire alarms sounding more than 30 minutes, and sound over 55 decibels (or 10 above ambient, whichever is greater) from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays, or over 45 decibels (or 10 above ambient) at other times. Exemptions include emergency work and vehicles, approved parades and special events, and licensed marina operations between sunrise and sunset. Council or designated staff may grant a permit exemption for a particular event.Noise Control Bylaw No. 108, 2004, Bowen Island Municipality, Schedule A (a), (d), (h); Noise Control Bylaw No. 108, 2004, Bowen Island Municipality, ss. 3, 4(b); Noise Control and Exemptions, Bowen Island Municipality, How to Apply · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingany sound made by a dog barking, howling or other noise it creates either continually or sporadically for any period in excess of 30 minutes of time; the greater of 55 decibels or the sound level that is 10 decibels above the ambient sound the greater of 45 decibels or the sound level that is 10 decibels above the ambient sound any person lawfully participating in any parade, exhibition or other special event may by permit grant specific exemptions from the application of section 2 Complete an application form and submit it to Municipal Hall at least four (4) weeks prior to the proposed event. |
| Who to call, business hours | Bylaw Services: 604-947-4255 ext 2 or bylaw@bimbc.ca. The Dog Control page says an officer is on duty 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., seven days a week except statutory holidays, at 604-328-5499.Parking Tickets and Violation Notices, Bowen Island Municipality, Questions?; Dog Control - Bowen Island Municipality, During business hours; Noise Control Bylaw No. 108, 2004, Bowen Island Municipality, s. 5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingPlease contact Bylaw Services by calling 604-947-4255 ext 2 or emailing bylaw@bimbc.ca Bylaw Services now have an officer on duty from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, seven days a week (except statutory holidays). please call Bylaw Services at 604-328-5499. The Bylaw Enforcement Officer, as appointed by Council, including but not exclusively limited to the RCMP, shall be responsible for receiving and responding to complaints |
| Who to call, after hours | For urgent matters, the RCMP non-emergency line is 604-947-0516 (the RCMP may not be on shift and a response may be delayed). Emergencies: 911.Bylaw Enforcement, Bowen Island Municipality · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingplease call the RCMP non-emergency number at 604-947-0516. Please be aware that the RCMP may not be on shift when you call |
| Fine | Bylaw notice for noise (disturbing noise, animal noise, amplified sound, alarms, construction outside permitted hours): $50 first offence ($25 if paid early, $75 late); $200 second ($175 early, $225 late); $500 further ($475 early, $500 late).Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 196, 2008 (consolidated March 2026), Bowen Island Municipality, Schedule AE · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wording2a Making disturbing noise – first contravention 50.00 25.00 75.00 2g 200.00 175.00 225.00 Construction noise outside of permitted hours 500.00 475.00 500.00 |
| Bylaw | Bowen Island Municipality Noise Control Bylaw No. 108, 2004Noise Control Bylaw No. 108, 2004, Bowen Island Municipality, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNoise Control Bylaw No. 108, 2004 |
How it works
Under the Noise Control Bylaw No. 108, 2004, no one may make or allow any noise or sound that disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of the neighbourhood or people nearby. This covers property owners who let their property be used that way, animals that call, cry or bark, and amplified sound from premises, vehicles or vessels. The bylaw sets no fixed quiet hours for ordinary noise.
Good to know
- Construction noise (and lawn and garden maintenance sounds) is not allowed Monday to Friday before 7 a.m. or after 8 p.m., or on Saturdays, Sundays and other holidays before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
- Schedule A also lists dogs or other animals making noise for more than 15 minutes, car, security or fire alarms sounding more than 30 minutes, and sound over 55 decibels (or 10 above ambient, whichever is greater) from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays, or over 45 decibels (or 10 above ambient) at other times.
- Exemptions include emergency work and vehicles, approved parades and special events, and licensed marina operations between sunrise and sunset. Council or designated staff may grant a permit exemption for a particular event; see the Noise Control and Exemptions page.
- Bylaw notice: $50 first offence, $200 second, $500 further . Paid within 14 days: $25, $175 and $475.
- Report noise to Bylaw Services at 604-947-4255 ext. 2 or bylaw@bimbc.ca. The Dog Control page lists an officer on duty 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., seven days a week except statutory holidays, at 604-328-5499.
- For urgent matters, the RCMP non-emergency line is 604-947-0516. The RCMP may not be on shift and a response may be delayed. In an emergency call 911.
Official forms and pages
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Noise bylaws in British Columbia: quiet hours, construction hours and fines by municipality →
Sources
- Noise Control Bylaw No. 108, 2004 (PDF), Bowen Island Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Noise Control and Exemptions, Bowen Island Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 196, 2008 (consolidated March 2026) (PDF), Bowen Island Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaw Enforcement, Bowen Island Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Parking Tickets and Violation Notices, Bowen Island Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Contact, Bowen Island Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Dog Control - Bowen Island Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set. How answers are checked.