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

# Powell River noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines

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

**Short answer:** Under Powell River's Noise Control Bylaw 1913, noise that disturbs the neighbourhood is prohibited at any hour. Amplified sound, animal noise, machinery and construction noise are objectionable from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. Report noise to Bylaw Enforcement at 604-485-8600.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Powell River, https://powellriver.ca)  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Enforcement (weekdays), 604-485-8600 (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday)
- Phone: City after-hours line (also Saturday and Sunday), 604-485-6291 (press 3) (Weekend hours on the City page are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
- Phone: RCMP non-emergency (after-hours noise), 604-485-6255

## Key facts

- **General rule:** No one may make, cause or permit 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 nearby. Owners and occupiers may not let noise from their property do the same.
  - Source: [Noise Control Bylaw 1913, 2000, ss. 3, 4](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/243)
  - Official wording: "any noise or sound which disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment," … "No owner or occupier of real property shall use that property, or permit that property to be used, so"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Quiet hours:** The bylaw calls certain noises objectionable between 8 p.m. (2000 hours) and 7 a.m. (0700 hours): amplified music or speech audible outside the premises or at the property boundary, animal noise audible outside the premises or at the property boundary, machinery or equipment noise, and construction noise.
  - Source: [Noise Control Bylaw 1913, 2000, s. 6](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/243)
  - Official wording: "any amplified music or speech whichis audible between the hours of 2000 hours and" … "0700 hours outside the premises where it originates or is reproduced or at any boundary" … "any noises or sounds made by the operation of any machinery or equipment between the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Construction hours:** Noise from construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair or demolition of any building, structure or thing, including excavation or filling of land, is prohibited between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m.
  - Source: [Noise Control Bylaw 1913, 2000, s. 6(d)](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/243)
  - Official wording: "any noises or sounds made in the construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair or" … "demolition of any building, structure, or thing, including the excavation or filling of land," … "between the hours of 2000 hours and 0700 hours"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other limits:** No decibel limits are set. Amplified sound and animal noise are banned if they disturb (s. 5), and are objectionable if audible outside the premises or at the property boundary between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. (s. 6). Exempt: emergency vehicles, City public works, tide-dependent marine work, snow removal and highway cleaning, church bells or chimes, and required public address or alarm systems.
  - Source: [Noise Control Bylaw 1913, 2000, ss. 5, 6, 7](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/243)
  - Official wording: "permit any animal, by its calls, cries, barks, or other noises or sounds, to disturb the quiet." … "police, fire or other emergency vehicles proceeding upon or engaged in an emergency;" … "snow removal or highway cleaning operations;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Who to call, business hours:** Bylaw Enforcement (City Hall, 6910 Duncan Street): (604) 485-8600, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Anonymous complaints are not accepted; include name, address and phone number and a detailed description.
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement, Bylaw Complaints](https://powellriver.ca/pages/bylaw-enforcement-and-animal-control)
  - Official wording: "Call (604) 485-8600 (8:00 am - 4:30 pm) Monday - Friday" … "Anonymous complaints will not be accepted by the City"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Who to call, after hours:** City after-hours line: (604) 485-6291, press 3 (also Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). The City's contact page lists the RCMP non-emergency line, (604) 485-6255, for after-hours noise violations.
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement, Bylaw Complaints](https://powellriver.ca/pages/bylaw-enforcement-and-animal-control)
  - Official wording: "Call (604) 485-6291 press 3) - after hours, Saturday and Sunday (8:00 - 4:00 pm)"
  - Source: [Public Queries and Contact Resources, RCMP Non-Emergency](https://powellriver.ca/pages/publicqueriesandcontactresources)
  - Official wording: "Criminal activity; after hours noise violations:" … "604-485-6255"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Municipal ticket: $100 for noise that disturbs (ss. 3, 4, 5) and for noise during the prohibited hours (s. 6). The current Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2818, 2026 also lists Noise Control Bylaw offences, but the penalty amounts are not legible in the text copy.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw 2572, 2019 (consolidated January 2022), Sch. 7](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/67966)
  - Official wording: "Noise which disturbs 3 $ 100.00" … "Noise during prohibited time 6(d) $ 100.00"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2818, 2026, Appendix 9](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/159841)
  - Official wording: "Appendix 9: Noise Control Bylaw 1913,2000"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Powell River (District of Powell River) Noise Control Bylaw No. 1913, 2000
  - Source: [Noise Control Bylaw 1913, 2000, s. 1](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/243)
  - Official wording: "Noise Control Bylaw No. 1913,2000."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Noise Control Bylaw](<https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/243>), no one may make, cause or permit any noise or sound that disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of the neighbourhood or of people nearby. Owners and occupiers may not let noise from their property do the same. This applies at any hour.

Between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m., the bylaw specifically calls these noises objectionable: amplified music or speech audible outside the premises or at the property boundary, animal noise audible outside the premises or at the property boundary, machinery or equipment noise, and construction noise. Construction includes construction, alteration, repair or demolition of any building or structure, including excavation or filling of land. The hours are the same every day; the bylaw does not mention Sundays or holidays.

## Steps

1. Call Bylaw Enforcement at 604-485-8600 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). Give your name, address, phone number and a detailed description. Anonymous complaints are not accepted.
2. After hours, call the City line at 604-485-6291, press 3, or the RCMP non-emergency line at 604-485-6255.
3. For ongoing noise, use the City's noise log sheets.

## Good to know

- No decibel limits are set.
- Exempt: emergency vehicles, City public works, tide-dependent marine work, snow removal and highway cleaning, church bells or chimes, and required public address or alarm systems.
- Council Policy 186 says Bylaw staff investigate noise complaints once two separate corroborating complaints come from separate households.
- A municipal ticket is $100 for noise that disturbs and for noise during the prohibited hours. The newer notice schedule also lists these offences, but its amounts could not be read, so confirm with the City.
- The maximum court fine is $2,000.

## Official forms and pages

- [Noise Control Bylaw 1913 (PDF)](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/243)
- [Council Policy 186, Noise Complaint (PDF)](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/38044)
- [Noise Log Sheet](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/81934)
- [Noise Log Sheet, example](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/81935)

## Related questions

- [Powell River bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/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)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/noise-rules.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/noise-rules.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/noise-rules.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/noise-rules.md)
- [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/noise-rules.md)
- [Parksville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/noise-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Noise Control Bylaw 1913, 2000](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/243) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Council Policy 186, Noise Complaint](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/38044) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Enforcement, City of Powell River](https://powellriver.ca/pages/bylaw-enforcement-and-animal-control) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Public Queries and Contact Resources, City of Powell River](https://powellriver.ca/pages/publicqueriesandcontactresources) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw 2572, 2019 (consolidated January 2022)](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/67966) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2818, 2026](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/159841) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 8 of 8 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Powell River. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/noise-rules/_