---
title: "Burnaby noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines"
question: "What are the noise rules and quiet hours in Burnaby?"
place: Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/burnaby
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Burnaby
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/noise-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/noise-rules.json"
---

# Burnaby noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines

**Question:** What are the noise rules and quiet hours in Burnaby?

**Short answer:** Burnaby's Noise or Sound Abatement Bylaw sets no single set of quiet hours, but its limits change at 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Continuous residential noise may not exceed 55 dBA from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. or 45 dBA from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Report noise to Licensing at 604-294-7320.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Burnaby, https://www.burnaby.ca)  
**Cost:** Bylaw notices (amount if paid within 15 days in brackets): noise disturbing others $200 ($150); exceeding decibel limits $300 ($250); construction outside hours or over 85 dBA $400 ($350).  
**Where:**
- Phone: Licensing (party, commercial, construction, lawn mower, refuse collection and other noise), 604-294-7320 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.)
- Phone: After hours, emergencies only (Burnaby Dispatch), 604-294-7200
- Phone: Burnaby RCMP non-emergency (building alarms, roadway noise, vehicle alarms outside office hours), 604-646-9999
- Phone: Barking dogs and vehicle alarms on a roadway (weekdays), 604-294-7944

## Key facts

- **General rule:** No one may make or cause any noise or sound, on a highway or elsewhere in Burnaby, that disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of the neighbourhood or people nearby. An owner or occupier may not let their property be used so that such noise comes from it.
  - Source: [Burnaby Noise or Sound Abatement Bylaw 1979 (No. 7332), consolidated, ss. 3(a), 4(a)](https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/7332CC.pdf)
  - Official wording: "which disturbs, or tends to disturb, the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment," … "allow such real property to be used so that noise or sound emanates there from"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Quiet hours:** The bylaw has no single set of quiet hours, but its limits change at 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. In residential, multi-family and institutional districts, continuous noise (more than 3 minutes in any 15 minutes) may not exceed 55 dBA from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. or 45 dBA from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. No power lawn mower or power gardening tool may be used from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
  - Source: [Burnaby Noise or Sound Abatement Bylaw 1979 (No. 7332), consolidated, ss. 5, 14(2)](https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/7332CC.pdf)
  - Official wording: "between the hours of 7:00 o'clock in the forenoon and 10:00 o'clock in the" … "exceeds 55 dBA's;" … "exceeds 45 dBA's." … "operate any power lawn mower or power gardening tool"
  - Source: [Noise, Residential noise](https://www.burnaby.ca/services-and-payments/bylaw-enforcement-and-tickets/noise)
  - Official wording: "55 dBA (7 am-10 pm)" … "45 dBA (10 pm-7 am)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Construction hours:** Building construction, alteration, repair or demolition work is allowed 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday. None on Sundays or statutory holidays, except that the owner or occupier of a home in a residential district, or their contractor, may alter or repair that residence from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays and statutory holidays. The Inspector may vary the hours by written permit for a fee.
  - Source: [Burnaby Noise or Sound Abatement Bylaw 1979 (No. 7332), consolidated, s. 15(1), (2), (4)](https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/7332CC.pdf)
  - Official wording: "before 7:00 a.m. or after 8:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday;" … "before 9:00 a.m. or after 8:00 p.m. on Saturday;" … "at any time on Sunday or any statutory holiday." … "after 9:00 a.m. and before 8:00 p.m. on Sunday and any statutory holiday." … "the Inspector may by written permit vary the hours during which work may be"
  - Source: [Noise, Exceptions](https://www.burnaby.ca/services-and-payments/bylaw-enforcement-and-tickets/noise)
  - Official wording: "Residence alteration or repair by the owner, occupier or a contractor between 9 am-8 pm on Sundays and statutory holidays."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other limits:** Non-continuous noise (under 3 minutes in 15) may not exceed 80 dBA from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. or 75 dBA from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Commercial, industrial, comprehensive development and agricultural districts: continuous noise limit 65 dBA by day and 60 dBA at night measured at the property line, and 60 dBA by day and 55 dBA at night within or at the boundary of residential districts. Power lawn mowers and garden tools: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and holidays, up to 87 dBA. Exemptions: snow removal equipment, emergency work to protect property, life or health, and events authorized by Council at Deer Lake Park or Swangard Stadium.
  - Source: [Burnaby Noise or Sound Abatement Bylaw 1979 (No. 7332), consolidated, ss. 6 to 8, 14(1), 16, 16A, 16B](https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/7332CC.pdf)
  - Official wording: "non-continuous noise or non-continuous sound in the" … "65 dBAs when measured pursuant to subsection 9(a); or" … "does not exceed 87 dBAs." … "The provisions of this Bylaw do not apply to the operation of snow removal equipment." … "when performing works of an emergency nature for the preservation or protection of property, life or health."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Who to call, business hours:** Licensing, 604-294-7320, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. (party/stereo/band, commercial/industrial, construction, lawn mower and garden tool, refuse collection and other noise). Building alarms and noise on a roadway: Burnaby RCMP non-emergency 604-646-9999. Vehicle alarms on a roadway: Parking Bylaw Enforcement 604-294-7944 weekdays.
  - Source: [Noise, Residential noise reporting](https://www.burnaby.ca/services-and-payments/bylaw-enforcement-and-tickets/noise)
  - Official wording: "Licensing 604-294-7320 Monday-Friday: 8 am-4:45 pm" … "Party/stereo/band Commercial/industrial noise Construction noise Lawn mower & gardening tools Refuse collection Other" … "RCMP non-emergency 604-646-9999" … "Parking Bylaw Enforcement Phone: 604-294-7944"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Who to call, after hours:** Burnaby Dispatch, 604-294-7200, for emergencies only after hours. Burnaby RCMP non-emergency, 604-646-9999, for building alarms, roadway noise and vehicle alarms outside office hours.
  - Source: [Noise, Residential noise reporting](https://www.burnaby.ca/services-and-payments/bylaw-enforcement-and-tickets/noise)
  - Official wording: "After hours (emergencies only) Burnaby Dispatch 604-294-7200" … "Contact RCMP non-emergency outside these hours 604-646-9999" … "After hours: RCMP non-emergency 604-646-9999"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice (early amount within 15 days): noise disturbing others $200 ($150); exceeding decibel limits $300 ($250); construction outside allowed hours or over 85 dBA $400 ($350); power lawn mower or garden tool outside hours or over limit $200 ($150); refuse collection outside hours $250 ($200).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 12657, Schedule A, Schedule A, Noise or Sound Abatement Bylaw 1979](https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/12657CC.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Make or cause any noise or sound which 200 150 YES disturbs persons in the vicinity." … "Owner/occupier allowing noise from 200 150 YES property which disturbs neighbourhood" … "Person exceeding allowable daytime noise 300 250 YES level in residential/multi-" … "15(1)(a) Carrying construction alteration/demolition 400 350 YES" … "14(2) Operation of power lawn mower or power 200 150 YES" … "15(3) Construction exceeding allowable noise level 400 350 YES"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Burnaby Noise or Sound Abatement Bylaw 1979 (Bylaw No. 7332).
  - Source: [Burnaby Noise or Sound Abatement Bylaw 1979 (No. 7332), consolidated, title](https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/7332CC.pdf)
  - Official wording: "BURNABY NOISE OR SOUND ABATEMENT BYLAW 1979"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Burnaby's [Noise or Sound Abatement Bylaw](https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/7332CC.pdf) bans any noise that disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of the neighbourhood or people nearby, and sets decibel (dBA) limits. An owner or occupier may not let property be used so that such noise comes from it. The bylaw still refers to districts of the old Zoning Bylaw 1965, which Zoning Bylaw 2026 replaced, so confirm with Licensing how your lot is classed.

## Good to know

- Continuous noise (more than 3 minutes in any 15) in residential, multi-family and institutional districts: 55 dBA from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., 45 dBA from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Shorter noise: 80 dBA by day and 75 dBA at night. Measurement is on or within 6 m of the property line.
- Construction, alteration, repair or demolition: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday; none on Sundays or statutory holidays. An owner or occupier of a home in a residential district, or their contractor, may alter or repair it 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays and statutory holidays. Construction noise near homes may not exceed 85 dBA measured 15.2 m from the source.
- Power lawn mowers and garden tools (up to 87 dBA): not from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.; 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and holidays.
- Refuse collection from containers: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays and holidays.
- Commercial, industrial, comprehensive development and agricultural districts: continuous noise 65 dBA by day and 60 dBA at night at the property line, and 60 dBA by day and 55 dBA at night within or at the boundary of residential districts.
- Exemptions include snow removal equipment, emergency work, and events authorized by Council at Deer Lake Park or Swangard Stadium. The Inspector may vary the hours by written permit for a fee.
- Noise inside a multi-unit building goes first to the strata council, property manager or building owner.
- A court conviction can carry a fine up to $10,000, and each day is a separate offence.

## Official forms and pages

- [Noise, City of Burnaby](https://www.burnaby.ca/services-and-payments/bylaw-enforcement-and-tickets/noise)
- [Noise or Sound Abatement Bylaw 7332 (consolidated PDF)](https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/7332CC.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Burnaby bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Burnaby short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/short-term-rental.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Noise bylaws in British Columbia: quiet hours, construction hours and fines by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/noise-rules.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/noise-rules.md)
- [Richmond](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/noise-rules.md)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/noise-rules.md)
- [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/noise-rules.md)
- [Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/noise-rules.md)
- [Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/noise-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Noise, City of Burnaby](https://www.burnaby.ca/services-and-payments/bylaw-enforcement-and-tickets/noise) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Burnaby Noise or Sound Abatement Bylaw 1979 (No. 7332), consolidated (PDF)](https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/7332CC.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 12657, Schedule A (PDF)](https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/12657CC.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 8 of 8 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Burnaby. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/noise-rules/_