---
title: "Highlands noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines"
question: "What are the noise rules and quiet hours in Highlands?"
place: Highlands, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/highlands
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Highlands
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/noise-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/noise-rules.json"
---

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

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

**Short answer:** Highlands has no fixed quiet hours. The Noise Suppression Bylaw bans any noise that disturbs the peace, rest or comfort of the neighbourhood. Construction that disturbs others is not allowed before 7 a.m. or after sunset or 7 p.m., whichever is the latest. The fine is $200.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Highlands, https://www.highlands.ca)  
**Cost:** Noise that disturbs: $200 bylaw notice or municipal ticket.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Phone: District Office, 250-474-1773
- By mail: Mail a written complaint, 1980 Millstream Road, Victoria BC V9B 6H1
- Phone: CRD Animal Care (barking dogs), 250-478-0624

## Key facts

- **General rule:** No person may make, cause or continue any noise or sound, on a highway or elsewhere, that disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of the neighbourhood or of people near the source.
  - Source: [Noise Suppression By-law, 1981 (CRD Bylaw 961), s. 2(2)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1424)
  - Official wording: "No person shall make, cause to be made, or continue to make, any noise or sound in" … "disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of the neighbourhood"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Quiet hours:** None set. The Noise Suppression Bylaw sets no fixed quiet hours for ordinary noise.
- **Construction hours:** Construction, demolition, alteration or repair of a building, or excavating or filling land, in a way that disturbs others is not allowed before 7 a.m. or after sunset or 7 p.m., whichever is the latest. The bylaw sets no separate Sunday or holiday rule for construction.
  - Source: [Noise Suppression By-law, 1981 (CRD Bylaw 961), s. 3(6)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1424)
  - Official wording: "No person shall construct, demolish, alter or repair a building, or excavate or fill" … "before the hours of 7 o’clock in the forenoon or after sunset or 7 o’clock in the afternoon, whichever is the latest"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Other limits:** Also banned when disturbing: loud radios, instruments or amplified sound; animals or caged birds making frequent or loud noise; vehicles or engines without a sufficient muffler; engine retarder brakes on District highways except in an emergency; loading or unloading trucks before 7 a.m. or after sunset or 7 p.m. (whichever is latest) or on Sundays. Exempt: emergency vehicles, reasonable farm equipment, church bells.
  - Source: [Noise Suppression By-law, 1981 (CRD Bylaw 961), s. 3(1), (2), (3), (5), (8); s. 4](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1424)
  - Official wording: "No person shall play any radio, phonograph, television receiving set, tape, cartridge," … "No person shall keep or harbour any animal or caged bird which by making frequent" … "No person shall use an engine retardant brake while operating a motor" … "nor on Sundays." … "the operation, in a reasonable manner, of farm equipment"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Who to call, business hours:** The District's Bylaw Officer. Complaints must be in writing (Report an Issue form, email, fax 250-474-3677, mail to 1980 Millstream Road, or drop off at the District Office), except urgent health and safety matters. District Office phone: 250-474-1773. Barking dogs: CRD Animal Care, 250-478-0624.
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement, Report a Problem](https://www.highlands.ca/local-government/bylaw/bylaw-enforcement)
  - Official wording: "Complaints must be submitted in writing, with the exception of those that identify urgent contraventions" … "By mail: Bylaw Officer, 1980 Millstream Road, Victoria, BC V9B 6H1"
  - Source: [Find a Bylaw | District of Highlands, BC | CiviKit, Find a Bylaw page](https://www.highlands.ca/local-government/bylaw/find-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "please call the District Office at 250-474-1773"
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement Services | District of Highlands, BC | CiviKit, Animal Control](https://www.highlands.ca/local-government/bylaw-enforcement-services/bylaw-enforcement-services/bylaw-enforcement-services)
  - Official wording: "Animal control services for the District of Highlands are provided, by contract, through the Capital Regional District. Please call 250-478-0624 or E-mail."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Who to call, after hours:** Not confirmed. No official Highlands page names an after-hours noise line.
- **Fine:** Noise which disturbs (s. 2(2)): bylaw notice $200 ($160 within 14 days; $240 after 28 days); municipal ticket $200. Construction noise which disturbs (s. 3(6)): the same $200. The bylaw itself allows a fine up to $500 on conviction.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 475, 2025, Schedule A, Noise Suppression Bylaw No. 961](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1623)
  - Official wording: "Noise which disturbs 2(2) $200.00 $160.00 $240.00" … "Construction noise which disturbs 3(6) $200.00 $160.00 $240.00"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 478, 2025, Schedule A, Appendix 5](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1635)
  - Official wording: "Noise which disturbs 2(2) $200.00"
  - Source: [Noise Suppression By-law, 1981 (CRD Bylaw 961), s. 6(2)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1424)
  - Official wording: "is guilty of an offence and is" … "liable, on summary conviction, to a fine of not more than $500.00."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Noise Suppression By-law, 1981 (Capital Regional District Bylaw No. 961), posted by the District as Bylaw No. 961.
  - Source: [Noise Suppression By-law, 1981 (CRD Bylaw 961), title page and s. 7](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1424)
  - Official wording: "BYLAW NO. 961" … "This By-law may be cited as the “Noise Suppression By-law, 1981”"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [Noise Suppression By-law, 1981](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1424) (posted by the District as Bylaw No. 961) bans making or continuing any noise that disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of the neighbourhood or of people near the source. It sets no fixed quiet hours for ordinary noise and no decibel limits.

## Steps

1. Send a written complaint to the District's Bylaw Officer: use the Report an Issue form, email, fax 250-474-3677, mail, or drop it off at the District Office. Urgent health and safety matters need not be in writing.
2. For barking dogs, call CRD Animal Care at 250-478-0624.

## Good to know

- Construction, demolition, alteration or repair of a building, or excavating or filling land, in a way that disturbs others is not allowed before 7 a.m. or after sunset or 7 p.m., whichever is the latest. No separate Sunday or holiday rule for construction is set.
- Also banned when disturbing: loud radios, instruments or amplified sound; animals or caged birds making frequent or loud noise; vehicles or engines without a sufficient muffler; engine retarder brakes on District highways except in an emergency; and loading or unloading trucks before 7 a.m. or after sunset or 7 p.m. (whichever is latest) or on Sundays.
- Exempt: emergency vehicles, reasonable farm equipment and church bells.
- Fine: bylaw notice $200 ($160 within 14 days; $240 after 28 days); municipal ticket $200. Construction noise is the same $200. The bylaw allows up to $500 on conviction.
- No official Highlands page names an after-hours noise line. For animal matters, call 1-800-884-0919.

## Official forms and pages

- [Noise Suppression By-law, 1981 (Bylaw No. 961) (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1424)
- [Bylaw Enforcement, District of Highlands](https://www.highlands.ca/local-government/bylaw/bylaw-enforcement)

## Related questions

- [Highlands bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Highlands fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/fireworks.md)
- [Highlands dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/dog-leash-rules.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)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/noise-rules.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/noise-rules.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/noise-rules.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/noise-rules.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/noise-rules.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/noise-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Noise Suppression By-law, 1981 (CRD Bylaw 961) (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1424) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Enforcement, District of Highlands](https://www.highlands.ca/local-government/bylaw/bylaw-enforcement) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 475, 2025 (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1623) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 478, 2025 (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1635) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Animal Control & Licensing, District of Highlands](https://www.highlands.ca/community-services/animals-wildlife/animal-control-licensing) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Find a Bylaw | District of Highlands, BC | CiviKit](https://www.highlands.ca/local-government/bylaw/find-bylaw) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Enforcement Services | District of Highlands, BC | CiviKit](https://www.highlands.ca/local-government/bylaw-enforcement-services/bylaw-enforcement-services/bylaw-enforcement-services) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Highlands. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/noise-rules/_