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Colwood noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines

What are the noise rules and quiet hours in Colwood?

Colwood, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

Colwood's Noise Control Bylaw has no general quiet hours, but bans noise that disturbs neighbours at any time. Loud sound audible in a residential area is objectionable from 11:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m., lawn equipment is limited to 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and construction to 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday.

Key facts

General ruleNo one may make, cause or permit any noise in a public place, or on or from any premises they own, occupy or are on, that disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of the public or people nearby.Noise Control Bylaw No. 1594, 2016 (consolidated to April 8, 2022), s. 4.1, 4.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
No person shall make, cause or permit to be made any noise or sound in or on a highway, park or
No person who is the owner or occupier of, or who is present upon, any premises shall make, cause
disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet, peace, rest,
Quiet hoursNo general quiet hours. Specific time limits: amplified sound clearly audible in a residential area between 11:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. is objectionable; lawnmowers, leaf blowers, gas weed eaters and rototillers may not be used before 7:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. on any day.Noise Control Bylaw No. 1594, 2016 (consolidated to April 8, 2022), s. 5.1(a), 5.1(e) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
between the hours of 11:00 p.m. one day and 9:00 a.m. the following day.
Using a lawnmower, leaf blower, gas powered weed eater or rototiller before 7:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m on any day.
Construction hoursConstruction is prohibited before 7:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday, and at all times on Sundays and statutory holidays. Exception: owner or occupier home repairs or accessory buildings on a Sunday or statutory holiday between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Blasting-prep drilling: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday only.Noise Control Bylaw No. 1594, 2016 (consolidated to April 8, 2022), s. 6.1, 6.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Construction on any premises or on a highway, park or other public place before 7:00 a.m.
or after 7:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday, and at all times on Sundays and Statutory Holidays.
on a Sunday or Statutory Holiday between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
before 8:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday
Other limitsNo decibel limits. Also objectionable: diesel engine, truck or bus idling over 15 minutes in one place; vehicle noise audible beyond 150 m (buses and trucks excepted). Exempt: emergency vehicles, utility and government work, church bells, authorized parades and festivities; Royal Colwood Golf Club April to September 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. for maintenance equipment.Noise Control Bylaw No. 1594, 2016 (consolidated to April 8, 2022), s. 5.1(c), 5.1(d), 7.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
which is audible beyond 150 metres in any direction from the vehicle.
for more than 15 minutes
Noise or sound created from parades or public festivities authorized by the City.
the Royal Colwood Golf Club is permitted to
use agronomy maintenance equipment between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Who to call, business hoursCity of Colwood Bylaw Services: 250-478-5999 local 146, bylaw@colwood.ca, or the online Action Request form (choose BYLAW for noise). Barking dogs: CRD Animal Care Services, 250-478-0624.Contact Us; Action Request; Bylaw Services · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Bylaw Services: 250-478-5999 Local 146
Choose BYLAW for: Parking, Noise, Burning, Blasting, Unsightly premises
Email: bylaw@colwood.ca Phone: 2504785999
Who to call, after hoursThe City lists no after-hours bylaw number. Police (RCMP members are Peace Officers under the Noise Control Bylaw) can be reached through the West Shore RCMP non-emergency line, 250-474-2264; call 9-1-1 for emergencies. Barking dogs: CRD after hours, 1-800-665-7899 ext. 0.Police, Contact West Shore RCMP · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Non-emergency number: 250-474-2264
In emergencies, call 9-1-1
FineBylaw notice: noise in a public place or from private premises $200 ($160 within 14 days, $240 after 28 days); objectionable noise $450 ($350 / $500); construction or commercial noise $500 ($400 / $500). Municipal ticket: $200, $200, $450 and $700.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1911, 2021 (consolidated to March 9, 2026), Schedule B, Noise Control Bylaw No. 1594; Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1314, 2010 (consolidated to April 8, 2022), Schedule 8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Noise in public place which
Feed the deer 15.1 $200.00 $160.00 $240.00
Objectionable noise 5.2 $450.00 $350.00 $500.00
Construction/Commercial noise 6.2 $500.00 $400.00 $500.00
Construction / Commercial Noise
Construction / Commercial Noise 6.2 $700.00
Objectionable noise 5.2 $450.00
BylawNoise Control Bylaw No. 1594, 2016Noise Control Bylaw No. 1594, 2016 (consolidated to April 8, 2022), s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as "Noise Control Bylaw" No. 1594, 2016.

How it works

Under the Noise Control Bylaw No. 1594, no one may make or allow noise in a public place, or on or from premises they own, occupy or are on, that disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of the public or people nearby. There are no general quiet hours and no decibel limits. The bylaw sets specific hours for some activities.

Steps

  1. Check the limits below before starting noisy work.
  2. To report noise, use the Action Request form (choose BYLAW), email Bylaw Services, or call 250-478-5999 local 146. City Hall hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  3. For barking dogs, call CRD Animal Care Services.

Good to know

  • Amplified sound clearly audible in a residential area from 11:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. is objectionable.
  • Lawnmowers, leaf blowers, gas weed eaters and rototillers: not before 7:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m., any day.
  • Construction: not before 7:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and not on Sundays or statutory holidays. Owners or occupiers doing home repairs or building an accessory building may work on a Sunday or statutory holiday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Loading, unloading and delivery in a residential area: not before 7:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m., any day.
  • Also objectionable: an animal that persistently barks, cries or howls and is easily heard off the premises; diesel engine, truck or bus idling over 15 minutes in one place; vehicle noise audible beyond 150 m (buses and trucks excepted).
  • Exempt: emergency vehicles, utility and government work, church bells, and authorized parades and festivities.
  • The City lists no after-hours bylaw number. Its police page gives the West Shore RCMP non-emergency line, 250-474-2264; RCMP members are Peace Officers under the bylaw, but no City page says they take noise calls. Call 9-1-1 for emergencies.
  • Fines: bylaw notice $200 for noise in a public place or from private premises ($160 within 14 days, $240 after 28 days); $450 for objectionable noise ($350 / $500); $500 for construction or commercial noise ($400 / $500). Municipal tickets for these offences are $200, $200, $450 and $700; construction or commercial noise is $700, not $500.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

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Noise bylaws in British Columbia: quiet hours, construction hours and fines by municipality →

Sources

  1. Noise Control Bylaw No. 1594, 2016 (consolidated to April 8, 2022) (PDF), City of Colwood (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1911, 2021 (consolidated to March 9, 2026) (PDF), City of Colwood (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1314, 2010 (consolidated to April 8, 2022) (PDF), City of Colwood (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Action Request, City of Colwood (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Police, City of Colwood (read 2026-11-05)
  6. Contact Us, City of Colwood (read 2026-11-05)
  7. Bylaw Services, City of Colwood (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. How answers are checked.