GovHandbook

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

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

Port Hardy, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

Port Hardy's Noise Regulation Bylaw bans noise that disturbs the peace of others, but sets no fixed quiet hours. Construction, demolition, excavation and road work are not allowed before 7:00 a.m. (9:00 a.m. on Sundays) or after 10:00 p.m. Undue noise is a $250 ticket.

Key facts

General ruleNo person may disturb or tend to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of others by making, causing or permitting noise on public or private property, including from amplified sound, barking animals or birds, and intermittent cries.Noise Regulation Bylaw No. 949, 1996, s. 3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
No person shall disturb or tend to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort, or
Keeping or harbouring any animal or bird which unduly cries, barks or chirps.
Making intermittent or reiterated cries.
Quiet hoursNone set. The Noise Regulation Bylaw sets no fixed quiet hours for ordinary noise.
Construction hoursConstruction, demolition, excavation and road work are not allowed on any day before 7:00 a.m. (9:00 a.m. on Sundays) or after 10:00 p.m.Noise Regulation Bylaw No. 949, 1996, s. 3(vi) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
on any day before 7:00 a.m. (9:00 a.m. on Sundays) or after 10:00 pm.
Other limitsNo decibel limits are set; Council may sanction a decibel meter to back up complaints. Emergency work and normal airport, seaplane base and heliport operations are exempt. Council may grant a temporary exemption on application.Noise Regulation Bylaw No. 949, 1996, s. 4, 5, 6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Council may sanction the use of a decimeter to corroborate complaints made under this
The onus shall be on the person performing
This bylaw is not applicable to the normal operational requirement of an airport,
may make application to Council to be granted a temporary exemption
Who to call, business hoursThe District Office, 250-949-6665, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Complaints must be in writing with the complainant's name and contact information (form, letter, or email to general@porthardy.ca); the Bylaw Enforcement Officer investigates.Contact Us; Bylaws, Complaint process · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Tel: 250 949 6665
Hours: M-F 8:30am-4:30pm (Excluding Statutory Holidays)
The Bylaw Enforcement Officer will investigate your complaint.
The complaint is in writing.
Who to call, after hoursNot confirmed. No official page names an after-hours noise line.
FineMunicipal ticket: undue noise $250 (s. 3(i)); permitting undue noise, amplified music or noise, animal noise, vocal noise, and breaking construction hours are each $100.Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 01-2010, consolidated August 2014, Schedule I, Noise Regulation Bylaw No. 949 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Undue noise
Permitting undue noise
Work contrary to permitted construction hours
BylawDistrict of Port Hardy Noise Regulation Bylaw No. 949, 1996.Noise Regulation Bylaw No. 949, 1996, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Noise Regulation Bylaw No. 949, 1996

How it works

Under the Noise Regulation Bylaw 949, no person may disturb or tend to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of others by making, causing or permitting noise on public or private property. This includes amplified sound, barking animals or birds, and intermittent cries. It applies both in residential areas, schools, hospitals and places of worship (the "quiet zone") and everywhere else (the "activity zone"). The bylaw does not set fixed quiet hours for ordinary noise.

Steps

  1. Construction, demolition, excavation and road work must stay within the allowed hours: not before 7:00 a.m. (9:00 a.m. on Sundays) and not after 10:00 p.m.
  2. To complain, send a written complaint with your name and contact information: use the Bylaw Complaint Form, a letter, or an email to general@porthardy.ca. The Bylaw Enforcement Officer investigates.
  3. For barking or other animal noise, call the Animal Control Officer at 250-949-6113.
  4. The District Office is at 250-949-6665, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Good to know

  • No decibel limits are set. Council may sanction a decibel meter to back up complaints.
  • Emergency work and normal airport, seaplane base and heliport operations are exempt. Council may grant a temporary exemption on application.
  • The Animal Care and Control Bylaw also bars animal noise longer than 10 consecutive minutes.
  • No official page names an after-hours noise line. The RCMP can enforce the bylaw; their Port Hardy non-emergency number is 250-949-6335 (911 for emergencies).
  • A municipal ticket is $250 for undue noise. Permitting undue noise, amplified music or noise, animal noise, vocal noise, and breaking construction hours are each $100 (Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw 01-2010).

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Port McNeill · Tahsis · Sayward · Gold River · Campbell River · Cumberland

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

Sources

  1. Noise Regulation Bylaw No. 949, 1996 (PDF), District of Port Hardy (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 01-2010, consolidated August 2014 (PDF), District of Port Hardy (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Animal Care and Control Bylaw No. 11-2012, consolidated March 2023 (PDF), District of Port Hardy (read 2026-11-08)
  4. Bylaws, District of Port Hardy (read 2026-11-08)
  5. Contact Us, District of Port Hardy (read 2026-11-08)
  6. Police Department, District of Port Hardy (read 2026-11-08)
  7. Animal Control, District of Port Hardy (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. How answers are checked.