{"title":"Port Alberni noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines","question":"What are the noise rules and quiet hours in Port Alberni?","slug":"noise-rules","place":{"path":"ca/bc/port-alberni","name":"Port Alberni","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"bylaws-and-complaints","name":"Bylaws, noise and complaints"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of Port Alberni","url":"https://www.portalberni.ca"},"short_answer":"Port Alberni has no single set of quiet hours. Under the Noise Control Bylaw, amplified sound heard in a neighbouring home is banned before 8 a.m. and after 11 p.m., and building or repair work before 7 a.m. and after 10 p.m. Any noise that disturbs the peace is prohibited.","aliases":["quiet hours port alberni","noise bylaw port alberni","noise permit port alberni","loud neighbour port alberni"],"cost":"Bylaw notice $150 ($112.50 if paid within 14 days; $187.50 if paid late). On court conviction the bylaw sets $1,000 to $10,000.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Services","value":"250-720-2831","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."},{"type":"online","label":"Bylaw Services complaint form","value":"https://www.portalberni.ca/bylaw-services-complaint-form"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Public Safety Building","value":"3075 3rd Avenue, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 2A4"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Noise Control Bylaw 4718, consolidated with 4804 (PDF)","url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/4718_4804NoiseBylaw_Consolidated_jmac.pdf"},{"title":"Noise Complaint Log (PDF)","url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/pages/Noise%20Log%20%282018%29.pdf"},{"title":"Noise Permit (fillable PDF)","url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/users/tfeltrin/Noise%20Permit_Fillable.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Port Alberni bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/qualicum-beach","name":"Qualicum Beach","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/noise-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/parksville","name":"Parksville","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/noise-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cumberland","name":"Cumberland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/noise-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/comox","name":"Comox","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/noise-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/courtenay","name":"Courtenay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/noise-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lantzville","name":"Lantzville","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/noise-rules/"}],"topic":{"title":"Noise bylaws in British Columbia: quiet hours, construction hours and fines by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/noise-rules/"},"facts":{"general_rule":{"label":"General rule","value":"No person may make, cause or permit any noise in a public or private place that disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of any person.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/4718_4804NoiseBylaw_Consolidated_jmac.pdf","title":"Noise Control Bylaw 2009, No. 4718, consolidated with No. 4804 (PDF)","section":"s. 3","quotes":["No person shall make or cause, or permit to be made or caused, any noise in or on a public or private place which disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of any person."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"quiet_hours":{"label":"Quiet hours","value":"No single set of quiet hours. Amplified sound heard inside a neighbouring dwelling is banned before 8 a.m. and after 11 p.m.; motorized lawn and yard equipment before 7 a.m. and after 9 p.m.; loading or handling refuse and materials before 7 a.m. and after 10 p.m.","short":"None set; amplified sound banned before 8 a.m./after 11 p.m.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/4718_4804NoiseBylaw_Consolidated_jmac.pdf","title":"Noise Control Bylaw 2009, No. 4718, consolidated with No. 4804 (PDF)","section":"s. 4(a), (d), (g)","quotes":["before 8:00 AM or after 11:00 PM at a volume that may be heard inside a neighboring dwelling","Operate any motorized lawn or yard maintenance equipment before 7:00 AM","or otherwise handle any containers products, materials, or refuse before 7:00 AM or after 10:00 PM"]},{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/bylaw-services-department","title":"Bylaw Services Department, City of Port Alberni","section":"Noise","quotes":["From 11:00pm - 9:00am: Amplification of sound, including radios and stereophonic equipment is not permitted."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":"The City's Bylaw Services page says amplified sound is banned from 11 p.m. to 9 a.m.; the bylaw says 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. The bylaw is followed. Consolidation is to Oct. 9, 2012, the latest listed."},"construction_hours":{"label":"Construction hours","value":"Building, repair or demolition work and motorized construction equipment are banned before 7 a.m. and after 10 p.m. The bylaw sets no separate Sunday or holiday rule. The City Engineer may issue a permit for unavoidable extraordinary noise.","short":"7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/4718_4804NoiseBylaw_Consolidated_jmac.pdf","title":"Noise Control Bylaw 2009, No. 4718, consolidated with No. 4804 (PDF)","section":"s. 4(f), s. 6","quotes":["or operate any motorized construction equipment before 7:00 AM","a permit may be issued by the City Engineer or his or her designate"]},{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/bylaw-services-department","title":"Bylaw Services Department, City of Port Alberni","section":"Noise","quotes":["From 10:00pm - 7:00am: Noise due to construction is not permitted."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_limits":{"label":"Other limits","value":"No decibel limits. Also banned: noisy animals or birds, faulty mufflers, idling over 15 minutes (diesel engines, trucks, buses or low-restriction-muffler vehicles), unmonitored alarms, engine brakes, public address systems, persistent shouting. Exempt: emergency services, government and utility work, permitted events, organized sports, school events.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/4718_4804NoiseBylaw_Consolidated_jmac.pdf","title":"Noise Control Bylaw 2009, No. 4718, consolidated with No. 4804 (PDF)","section":"ss. 4-5","quotes":["Harbor or keep any animal or bird that persistently squawks, whines, howls,","Operate or use an engine braking device within the City;","Idle or continuously run a diesel engine, truck, bus, or any vehicle with a low","Emergency services personnel and equipment engaged in a duty related","Usual and reasonable noise or sound associated to an organized sporting","Idle or continuously run a diesel engine, truck, bus, or any vehicle with a low restriction muffler for more than 15 minutes in a general area"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"contact_day":{"label":"Who to call, business hours","value":"Bylaw Services, 250-720-2831, Public Safety Building (3075 3rd Ave), Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/bylaw-services-department","title":"Bylaw Services Department, City of Port Alberni","section":"Contact","quotes":["Call 250-720-2831","At present the office hours for the building are Monday – Friday 8:30am-4:30pm."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"contact_after_hours":{"label":"Who to call, after hours","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_published","note":"No after-hours noise complaint line is stated.","sources":[]},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice: $150 ($112.50 if paid within 14 days; $187.50 if paid late). The Noise Bylaw's own ticket schedule also lists $150. On court conviction the bylaw sets $1,000 to $10,000.","short":"Notice $150 ($112.50 if paid in 14 days)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5128%2C%205128-1_Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20No.%205128%2C%202025_Consolidated.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128, 2025 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"Schedule A-15","quotes":["Causing disturbing noise $150.00 $112.50 $187.50","Construction outside permitted hours $150.00 $112.50 $187.50"]},{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/4718_4804NoiseBylaw_Consolidated_jmac.pdf","title":"Noise Control Bylaw 2009, No. 4718, consolidated with No. 4804 (PDF)","section":"s. 8(a), Schedule A","quotes":["a fine of not less than $1000.00","and not more than $10,000","Cause disturbing noise 3. $150"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Noise Control Bylaw 2009, No. 4718","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/4718_4804NoiseBylaw_Consolidated_jmac.pdf","title":"Noise Control Bylaw 2009, No. 4718, consolidated with No. 4804 (PDF)","section":"s. 1","quotes":["Noise Control Bylaw 2009, No. 4718"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":8,"stated":7,"matched":7,"none":0,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Noise Control Bylaw No. 4718](<https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/4718_4804NoiseBylaw_Consolidated_jmac.pdf>) prohibits any noise, in a public or private place, that disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of any person. It sets no decibel limits and no single quiet-hours window; it bans specific noises at set times.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Note the date, time, address and what you heard. A noise log form is available from the City.\n2. Complain to Bylaw Services online, by phone at 250-720-2831 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or in writing at the Public Safety Building. Your name is required; anonymous complaints are not accepted.\n3. For noise outside police hours that needs police attention, the City's page says to call the RCMP at 250-723-2424. No after-hours noise complaint line is stated.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Amplified sound heard inside a neighbouring dwelling: banned before 8 a.m. and after 11 p.m. The City's Bylaw Services page says 11 p.m. to 9 a.m., so confirm with Bylaw Services.\n- Motorized lawn and yard equipment: banned before 7 a.m. and after 9 p.m.\n- Building, repair or demolition work and motorized construction equipment: banned before 7 a.m. and after 10 p.m. The bylaw sets no separate Sunday or holiday rule. Loading or handling refuse and materials is banned before 7 a.m. and after 10 p.m.\n- The City Engineer may issue a permit for unavoidable extraordinary noise.\n- Also banned: noisy animals or birds, faulty mufflers, idling over 15 minutes (diesel engines, trucks, buses or low-restriction-muffler vehicles), unmonitored alarms, engine brakes, public address systems and persistent shouting. Exempt: emergency services, government and utility work, permitted events, organized sports and school events.\n- A bylaw notice is $150 ($112.50 if paid within 14 days, $187.50 if paid late) under the [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128](<https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5128%2C%205128-1_Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20No.%205128%2C%202025_Consolidated.pdf>); the Noise Bylaw's own ticket schedule also lists $150.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/bylaw-services-department","title":"Bylaw Services Department, City of Port Alberni","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/4718_4804NoiseBylaw_Consolidated_jmac.pdf","title":"Noise Control Bylaw 2009, No. 4718, consolidated with No. 4804 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5128%2C%205128-1_Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20No.%205128%2C%202025_Consolidated.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128, 2025 (consolidated) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"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."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/noise-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/noise-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/noise-rules.json"}}