---
title: "Port Alberni noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines"
question: "What are the noise rules and quiet hours in Port Alberni?"
place: Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/port-alberni
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Port Alberni
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/noise-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/noise-rules.json"
---

# Port Alberni noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Port Alberni, https://www.portalberni.ca)  
**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.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Services, 250-720-2831 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Online: Bylaw Services complaint form, https://www.portalberni.ca/bylaw-services-complaint-form
- In person: Public Safety Building, 3075 3rd Avenue, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 2A4

## Key facts

- **General rule:** 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.
  - Source: [Noise Control Bylaw 2009, No. 4718, consolidated with No. 4804, s. 3](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/4718_4804NoiseBylaw_Consolidated_jmac.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Quiet hours:** 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. (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.)
  - Source: [Noise Control Bylaw 2009, No. 4718, consolidated with No. 4804, s. 4(a), (d), (g)](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/4718_4804NoiseBylaw_Consolidated_jmac.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Bylaw Services Department, Noise](https://www.portalberni.ca/bylaw-services-department)
  - Official wording: "From 11:00pm - 9:00am: Amplification of sound, including radios and stereophonic equipment is not permitted."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Construction hours:** 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.
  - Source: [Noise Control Bylaw 2009, No. 4718, consolidated with No. 4804, s. 4(f), s. 6](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/4718_4804NoiseBylaw_Consolidated_jmac.pdf)
  - Official wording: "or operate any motorized construction equipment before 7:00 AM" … "a permit may be issued by the City Engineer or his or her designate"
  - Source: [Bylaw Services Department, Noise](https://www.portalberni.ca/bylaw-services-department)
  - Official wording: "From 10:00pm - 7:00am: Noise due to construction is not permitted."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other limits:** 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.
  - Source: [Noise Control Bylaw 2009, No. 4718, consolidated with No. 4804, ss. 4-5](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/4718_4804NoiseBylaw_Consolidated_jmac.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Who to call, business hours:** Bylaw Services, 250-720-2831, Public Safety Building (3075 3rd Ave), Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  - Source: [Bylaw Services Department, Contact](https://www.portalberni.ca/bylaw-services-department)
  - Official wording: "Call 250-720-2831" … "At present the office hours for the building are Monday – Friday 8:30am-4:30pm."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Who to call, after hours:** Not confirmed. No after-hours noise complaint line is stated.
- **Fine:** 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.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128, 2025 (consolidated), Schedule A-15](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5128%2C%205128-1_Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20No.%205128%2C%202025_Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Causing disturbing noise $150.00 $112.50 $187.50" … "Construction outside permitted hours $150.00 $112.50 $187.50"
  - Source: [Noise Control Bylaw 2009, No. 4718, consolidated with No. 4804, s. 8(a), Schedule A](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/4718_4804NoiseBylaw_Consolidated_jmac.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a fine of not less than $1000.00" … "and not more than $10,000" … "Cause disturbing noise 3. $150"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Noise Control Bylaw 2009, No. 4718
  - Source: [Noise Control Bylaw 2009, No. 4718, consolidated with No. 4804, s. 1](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/4718_4804NoiseBylaw_Consolidated_jmac.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Noise Control Bylaw 2009, No. 4718"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [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.

## Steps

1. Note the date, time, address and what you heard. A noise log form is available from the City.
2. 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.
3. 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.

## Good to know

- 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.
- Motorized lawn and yard equipment: banned before 7 a.m. and after 9 p.m.
- 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.
- The City Engineer may issue a permit for unavoidable extraordinary noise.
- 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.
- 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.

## Official forms and pages

- [Noise Control Bylaw 4718, consolidated with 4804 (PDF)](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/4718_4804NoiseBylaw_Consolidated_jmac.pdf)
- [Noise Complaint Log (PDF)](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/pages/Noise%20Log%20%282018%29.pdf)
- [Noise Permit (fillable PDF)](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/users/tfeltrin/Noise%20Permit_Fillable.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Port Alberni bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/bylaw-fines.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)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/noise-rules.md)
- [Parksville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/noise-rules.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/noise-rules.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/noise-rules.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/noise-rules.md)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/noise-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Bylaw Services Department, City of Port Alberni](https://www.portalberni.ca/bylaw-services-department) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Noise Control Bylaw 2009, No. 4718, consolidated with No. 4804 (PDF)](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/4718_4804NoiseBylaw_Consolidated_jmac.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128, 2025 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5128%2C%205128-1_Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20No.%205128%2C%202025_Consolidated.pdf) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Port Alberni. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/noise-rules/_