Courtenay noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines
What are the noise rules and quiet hours?
Short answer
Courtenay's Prevention of Public Nuisances Bylaw sets no fixed quiet hours for ordinary noise; noise that disturbs the neighbourhood is banned at any time. Fixed hours apply to construction and power tools. The City's Homeowners page calls 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. "quiet hours" for power tools and machinery.
Key facts
| General rule | No one may make or allow noise anywhere in the City that disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of the neighbourhood or of one or more people nearby.Prevention of Public Nuisances Bylaw No. 2804, 2014, s. 5(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingany noise or sounds in or on a highway or elsewhere in the City which disturb or tend to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of the neighbourhood or |
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| Quiet hours | The bylaw sets no fixed quiet hours for ordinary noise; disturbing noise is banned at any time (s. 5(a)). It bars power tools and machines before 7 a.m. and after 10 p.m. (s. 5(c)). The City Homeowners page calls 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. "quiet hours" for power tools and machinery.Homeowners, What you need to know; Prevention of Public Nuisances Bylaw No. 2804, 2014, s. 5(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingQuiet hours are 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Do not use power tools or machinery during these hours. No person shall, before 7:00 a.m. and after 10:00 p.m. on any day, use or operate sounds in or on a highway or elsewhere in the City which disturb or tend to disturb |
| Construction hours | Construction noise that disturbs the neighbourhood is not allowed before 7 a.m. Monday to Saturday (not statutory holidays), before 8 a.m. on Sundays and statutory holidays, or after 10 p.m. on any day.Prevention of Public Nuisances Bylaw No. 2804, 2014, s. 5(b); Homeowners, What you need to know · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingbefore 7:00 a.m. on any day from Monday to Saturday when such day is not a Statutory Holiday, or before 8:00 a.m. on any Sunday or Statutory Holiday, and after 10:00 p.m. on any day 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday to Saturday (excluding statutory holidays) 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays and statutory holidays |
| Other limits | Power tools and gardening machines: not before 7 a.m. or after 10 p.m. Disturbing amplified sound, and animals or birds that repeatedly make noise, are banned. Exempt: City, utility and ministry repair work, emergency repairs, snow clearing, permitted events, garbage collection 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. except Sunday.Prevention of Public Nuisances Bylaw No. 2804, 2014, s. 5(c), (d), (f), (i); Homeowners, What you need to know · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinguse or operate any power gardening tool or other power tool or machine. No person shall keep or harbour any animal or bird which disturbs or tends to disturb the peace, quiet, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of the neighbourhood by its repeated making of noise. any garbage collection service between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on each day except Sunday; snow clearing; and These noise rules do not apply to City staff, City contractors, the Ministry of Transportation and Transit, public utilities or emergency repairs. |
| Who to call, business hours | City Hall / Bylaw Enforcement: 250-334-4441, bylaw@courtenay.ca, or the bylaw complaint form. Bylaw officers work seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.Problem properties and enforcement; Bylaws, Contact Bylaw Enforcement · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingIf you have a question or concern about excessive noise, contact City Hall at 250-334-4441, email bylaw@courtenay.ca or use our bylaw complaint form. Monday to Sunday (seven days a week): 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. |
| Who to call, after hours | Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. |
| Fine | Bylaw notice: noise which disturbs $500 ($375 if paid within 14 days; $500 if paid late). Construction outside permitted hours, power tools outside permitted hours and noisy animals or birds are also $500.Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185, Appendix A, Prevention of Public Nuisances Bylaw · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNoise which disturbs 5(a) $500.00 $375.00 $500.00 No Construction outside of permitted 5(b) $500.00 $375.00 $500.00 No Keeping of animal or bird which 5(d) $500.00 $375.00 $500.00 Yes |
| Bylaw | Prevention of Public Nuisances Bylaw No. 2804, 2014Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185, Appendix A; Homeowners, Related bylaws · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingPREVENTION OF PUBLIC NUISANCES BYLAW NO. 2804, 2014 Prevention of Public Nuisances Bylaw |
How it works
Noise in Courtenay is governed by the Prevention of Public Nuisances Bylaw No. 2804. Section 5(a) bans making or allowing noise that disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of the neighbourhood or of anyone nearby, at any time. The bylaw sets no fixed quiet hours for ordinary noise and no decibel limit.
Steps
- Know the fixed hours. Construction noise that disturbs is not allowed before 7 a.m. Monday to Saturday (not statutory holidays), before 8 a.m. on Sundays and statutory holidays, or after 10 p.m. on any day. Power tools and gardening machines are not allowed before 7 a.m. or after 10 p.m.
- To report ongoing noise, use the bylaw complaint form, email bylaw@courtenay.ca or call 250-334-4441 ext. 5.
Good to know
- The City's Homeowners page calls 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. "quiet hours" for power tools and machinery.
- Disturbing amplified sound and animals or birds that repeatedly make noise are also banned.
- Exempt: City, utility and ministry repair work, emergency repairs, snow clearing, permitted events, and garbage collection from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. except Sunday. Council may approve necessary work in other hours in writing.
- Construction outside permitted hours, power tools outside permitted hours and noisy animals or birds are also $500 bylaw notices. The bylaw sets a general fine of up to $10,000.
- No after-hours noise contact is given on the City pages.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Comox · Cumberland · Powell River · Campbell River · Port Alberni · Qualicum Beach
Noise bylaws in British Columbia: quiet hours, construction hours and fines by municipality →
Sources
- Homeowners, City of Courtenay (read 2026-11-05)
- Prevention of Public Nuisances Bylaw No. 2804, 2014 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaws, City of Courtenay (read 2026-11-05)
- Problem properties and enforcement, City of Courtenay (read 2026-11-05)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.