Clearwater noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines
What are the noise rules and quiet hours in Clearwater?
Short answer
Clearwater's Noise Control Bylaw sets no fixed quiet hours or decibel limits. It bans noise that disturbs the neighbourhood's peace, including loud or persistent animal noise. Construction work is exempt from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. A ticket is $100.
Key facts
| General rule | No one may make or allow noise or sound in a public place, or on private property, that disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of the neighbourhood or people nearby. This includes animals that cause frequent or loud noise and persistent barking.Noise Control Bylaw No. 14, 2008, s. 2 to 5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNo person shall make or cause to be made any noise or sound in or on a highway or disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, No person shall harbour or keep any animal or bird which by causing frequent or loud noise |
|---|---|
| Quiet hours | None set. The Noise Control Bylaw sets no fixed quiet hours.Read: Noise Control Bylaw No. 14, 2008 |
| Construction hours | The bylaw does not apply to building, demolition, construction, alteration or repair work between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. (no days of the week are named). Lawn mowing and power gardening equipment are exempt from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on any day.Noise Control Bylaw No. 14, 2008, s. 6(b) and 6(e) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingbetween the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.; The use of lawn maintenance, lawn mowing or power gardening equipment between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on any day. |
| Other limits | No decibel limits. Exempt: public bodies' and RCMP work, essential or emergency work, farming on farmland (6 a.m. to 9 p.m., or any time if essential), commercial or industrial businesses in their zones 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., blasting and gravel crushing 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Sundays and statutory holidays.Noise Control Bylaw No. 14, 2008, s. 6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThis Bylaw does not apply to: Commercial or Industrial business operations undertaking their usual operations in Commercial or Industrial Zones during the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on each day except Sunday or a statutory holiday. |
| Who to call, business hours | Bylaw Enforcement Officer, (250) 674-2257 (direct (778) 208-0857), bylaw@docbc.ca. Complaints must be in writing or by the online form, with your name and phone number; anonymous complaints are not investigated.Bylaws, Contact · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingPhone: (250) 674-2257 Direct: (778) 208-0857 Email: bylaw@docbc.ca anonymous complaints are not investigated |
| Who to call, after hours | Not confirmed. No after-hours noise contact is stated in the published sources. |
| Fine | Municipal ticket: $100 ($75 if paid within 30 days) for noise disturbance in public, from private property, from a kept animal, a barking dog, or using a megaphone in a public place.Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 221, 2019, Schedule 2 (Noise Control Bylaw No. 14, 2008) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNoise disturbance from private property Barking dog Fine if paid |
| Bylaw | District of Clearwater Noise Control Bylaw No. 14, 2008Noise Control Bylaw No. 14, 2008, s. 10 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThis Bylaw may be cited as “District of Clearwater Noise Control Bylaw No. 14, 2008" |
How it works
Under the District's Noise Control Bylaw No. 14, no one may make or allow noise or sound in a public place, or on private property, that disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of the neighbourhood or people nearby. This includes animals that cause frequent or loud noise and persistent barking. The bylaw sets no fixed quiet hours and no decibel limits.
Steps
- Complain in writing or with the online form on the District's Bylaws page. Include your name and phone number; anonymous complaints are not investigated.
- Or contact the Bylaw Enforcement Officer at 250-674-2257 (direct 778-208-0857), bylaw@docbc.ca.
Good to know
- The bylaw does not apply to building, demolition, construction, alteration or repair work between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. (no days named). Lawn mowing and power gardening equipment are exempt from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on any day. Outside those times, the general ban applies.
- Other exemptions: public bodies' and RCMP work, essential or emergency work, farming on farmland (6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., or any time if essential), businesses in commercial or industrial zones 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and blasting and gravel crushing 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except Sundays and statutory holidays.
- No after-hours noise complaint number is stated on the District's pages.
- Municipal ticket (MTI Bylaw No. 221): $100 ($75 if paid within 30 days).
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Barriere · Sun Peaks · 100 Mile House · Kamloops · Enderby · Revelstoke
Noise bylaws in British Columbia: quiet hours, construction hours and fines by municipality →
Sources
- Noise Control Bylaw No. 14, 2008 (PDF), District of Clearwater (read 2026-11-08)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 221, 2019 (PDF), District of Clearwater (read 2026-11-08)
- Municipal Ticketing Information (MTI), District of Clearwater (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaws, District of Clearwater (read 2026-11-08)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.