GovHandbook

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

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

Port Alberni, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

Key facts

General ruleNo 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.Noise Control Bylaw 2009, No. 4718, consolidated with No. 4804, s. 3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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.
Quiet hoursNo 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.Noise Control Bylaw 2009, No. 4718, consolidated with No. 4804, s. 4(a), (d), (g); Bylaw Services Department, Noise · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
From 11:00pm - 9:00am: Amplification of sound, including radios and stereophonic equipment is not permitted.
Construction hoursBuilding, 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.Noise Control Bylaw 2009, No. 4718, consolidated with No. 4804, s. 4(f), s. 6; Bylaw Services Department, Noise · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
From 10:00pm - 7:00am: Noise due to construction is not permitted.
Other limitsNo 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.Noise Control Bylaw 2009, No. 4718, consolidated with No. 4804, ss. 4-5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
Who to call, business hoursBylaw Services, 250-720-2831, Public Safety Building (3075 3rd Ave), Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Bylaw Services Department, Contact · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Call 250-720-2831
At present the office hours for the building are Monday – Friday 8:30am-4:30pm.
Who to call, after hoursNot confirmed. No after-hours noise complaint line is stated.
FineBylaw 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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128, 2025 (consolidated), Schedule A-15; Noise Control Bylaw 2009, No. 4718, consolidated with No. 4804, s. 8(a), Schedule A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Causing disturbing noise $150.00 $112.50 $187.50
Construction outside permitted hours $150.00 $112.50 $187.50
a fine of not less than $1000.00
and not more than $10,000
Cause disturbing noise 3. $150
BylawNoise Control Bylaw 2009, No. 4718Noise Control Bylaw 2009, No. 4718, consolidated with No. 4804, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Noise Control Bylaw 2009, No. 4718

How it works

The Noise Control Bylaw No. 4718 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; the Noise Bylaw's own ticket schedule also lists $150.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Qualicum Beach · Parksville · Cumberland · Comox · Courtenay · Lantzville

Noise bylaws in British Columbia: quiet hours, construction hours and fines by municipality →

Sources

  1. Bylaw Services Department, City of Port Alberni (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Noise Control Bylaw 2009, No. 4718, consolidated with No. 4804 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128, 2025 (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. How answers are checked.