Esquimalt noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines
What are the noise rules and quiet hours in Esquimalt?
Short answer
In Esquimalt, noise that disturbs neighbours is banned from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday to Friday, and 10 p.m. to 9 a.m. on weekends and statutory holidays. Construction is limited to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays.
Key facts
| General rule | No one may make or allow a noise that disturbs the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of people nearby: in a street, park, plaza or other public place, or (for owners and occupiers) on their land or in their building if it can easily be heard by someone not on the same land or building. Audio advertising audible on a street or sidewalk is also banned.Maintenance of Property and Nuisance Regulation Bylaw 2014, No. 2826 (consolidated August 2024), s. 35(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person shall make, cause, allow or permit a noise or sound in a street, park, plaza or similar public place which disturbs or tends to disturb the which can be easily heard by a person not on the same Land or Building No Owner or Occupier shall cause or permit audio advertising which: |
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| Quiet hours | 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday to Friday, and 10 p.m. to 9 a.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays: no noise that disturbs or is likely to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of people nearby.Maintenance of Property and Nuisance Regulation Bylaw 2014, No. 2826 (consolidated August 2024), s. 35(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingbetween the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on a Monday to Friday, and between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. on a Saturday, Sunday or Statutory Holiday. |
| Construction hours | Construction or demolition that disturbs the public: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday (not on statutory holidays). Prohibited on Sundays and statutory holidays. A noise permit ($50 application fee, apply at least 10 business days ahead) can allow other times.Maintenance of Property and Nuisance Regulation Bylaw 2014, No. 2826 (consolidated August 2024), s. 18, 19, 38 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBetween 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on a weekday (Monday through Friday) that is not Between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on a Saturday that is not a Statutory Holiday. is prohibited on Sundays and Statutory Holidays. a non-refundable application fee of $50.00. at least 10 business days before construction work; |
| Other limits | Specifically banned: shouting or amplified sound in public places; radios, instruments or sound systems at a volume that disturbs; persistently barking animals; loud or badly muffled vehicles; amplified sound from a vehicle heard from 5 m away; idling a truck or bus over 3 minutes. Exempt: emergency vehicles, permitted events, places of worship bells, solid waste collection (6 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekends and holidays), municipal works, emergency repairs and permitted work. Dogs: see Animal Management Bylaw s. 50 (barking 10 minutes continuously or 15 minutes in an hour).Maintenance of Property and Nuisance Regulation Bylaw 2014, No. 2826 (consolidated August 2024), s. 36, 37; Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021), s. 50 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingthe production of amplified sound from a radio, other playback device, distance of 5m (16.4 ft.) or more from the vehicle; the idling or other continuous running of the engine of a truck or bus for more than three minutes at the same location a solid waste collection services conducted between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. bark, howl or cry continuously for 10 minutes or more without significant periods of rest, sporadically for a cumulative total of 15 or more minutes within one hour |
| Who to call, business hours | Township Bylaw Management Officer, 250-414-7161 (Municipal Hall, 1229 Esquimalt Road, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.); complaints in writing through the online form or bylaw@esquimalt.ca.Bylaw Enforcement Contacts; Bylaw Complaint · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingHours of operation: Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Phone: 250-414-7161 Bylaw complaints need to be submitted in writing. |
| Who to call, after hours | VicPD non-emergency line, 250-995-7654, for after-hours and weekend bylaw issues. For emergencies call 9-1-1.Bylaw Enforcement Contacts · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingFor after-hours and weekend bylaw issues, call VicPD at 250-995-7654. For emergencies, call 9-1-1. |
| Fine | Bylaw notice: noise that disturbs (person, or owner/occupier) $200 ($150 if paid within 14 days; $250 late); audio advertising $200; construction outside permitted hours $300 ($250 early, $350 late); construction on Sundays or statutory holidays $300; noisy dog $150 ($112 early, $187 late).Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2014, No. 2839 (consolidated September 2026), Schedule M, s. 35, 18, 19; Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2014, No. 2839 (consolidated September 2026), Schedule N, s. 50 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording35(1)(a) Person make noise that disturbs $200.00 $150.00 $250.00 35(1)(b) Owner/Occupier make noise that disturbs $200.00 $150.00 $250.00 18 Construction outside of permitted hours $300.00 $250.00 $350.00 19 Construction prohibited Sunday/Statutory $300.00 $250.00 $350.00 50 Noisy dog causing a nuisance 150.00 112.00 187.00 |
| Bylaw | Maintenance of Property and Nuisance Regulation Bylaw, 2014, No. 2826Maintenance of Property and Nuisance Regulation Bylaw 2014, No. 2826 (consolidated August 2024), Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingMaintenance of Property and Nuisance Regulation Bylaw, 2014, No. 2826 |
How it works
The Maintenance of Property and Nuisance Regulation Bylaw No. 2826 bans noise that disturbs the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of people nearby. It applies in streets, parks, plazas and other public places, and to owners and occupiers on their own land or in their buildings if the noise can easily be heard by someone not on the same land or building. Audio advertising audible on a street or sidewalk is also banned.
Quiet hours:
- 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., Monday to Friday
- 10 p.m. to 9 a.m., Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays
The bylaw sets no decibel limits.
Construction
Construction or demolition that disturbs the public is allowed 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday (not on statutory holidays). It is prohibited on Sundays and statutory holidays. A noise permit ($50 application fee, apply at least 10 business days ahead) can allow other times.
Steps (to complain)
- During office hours, contact the Township Bylaw Management Officer at 250-414-7161 or bylaw@esquimalt.ca, or use the online complaint form. Complaints are taken in writing.
- After hours and on weekends, call the VicPD non-emergency line at 250-995-7654. In an emergency, call 9-1-1.
Good to know
- Specifically banned: shouting or amplified sound in public places; radios, instruments or sound systems at a disturbing volume; persistently barking animals; loud or badly muffled vehicles; amplified sound from a vehicle heard from 5 m away; idling a truck or bus over 3 minutes.
- Barking dogs fall under the Animal Management Bylaw: barking for 10 minutes continuously or 15 minutes in an hour.
- Exempt: emergency vehicles, permitted events, bells of places of worship, solid waste collection (6 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekends and holidays), municipal works, emergency repairs and permitted work.
- Bylaw notices: noise that disturbs $200 ($150 early; early means within 14 days); audio advertising $200; construction outside permitted hours $300 ($250 early); construction on Sundays or statutory holidays $300; noisy dog $150 ($112 early). The bylaw itself allows a court fine of up to $10,000.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
View Royal · Victoria · Colwood · Saanich · Oak Bay · Langford
Noise bylaws in British Columbia: quiet hours, construction hours and fines by municipality →
Sources
- Maintenance of Property and Nuisance Regulation Bylaw 2014, No. 2826 (consolidated August 2024) (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Animal Management Bylaw 2015, No. 2841 (consolidated February 2021) (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2014, No. 2839 (consolidated September 2026) (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Bylaw Complaint, Township of Esquimalt (read 2026-11-06)
- Bylaw Enforcement Contacts, Township of Esquimalt (read 2026-11-06)
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.