Tofino noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines
What are the noise rules and quiet hours in Tofino?
Short answer
In Tofino, loud, objectionable or unnecessary noise that disturbs the neighbourhood is banned between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Continuous sound that disturbs others is banned at any hour, except construction-type work between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Report noise to Bylaw Services at 250-725-3229 ext. 706.
Key facts
| General rule | No loud, objectionable or unnecessary noise anywhere in the District that may disturb the peace, quiet, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of the neighbourhood between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Continuous sound that disturbs others is also banned at any hour, except construction-type work in the permitted hours.Public Property Use Regulation Bylaw No. 1098, 2009 (consolidated), s. 7.1, 7.2(a); Noise Regulations, Noise Regulations page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNo person shall make, allow, or cause to be made any loud, objectionable, or unnecessary noise anywhere within the District which may between the hours of 10 pm of one day and 7 am of the next day. No person shall make, allow, or cause to be made any continuous sound or continuous noise anywhere within the District loud or unnecessary noise that disturbs others is not permitted between 10 PM and 7 AM |
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| Quiet hours | 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. for loud, objectionable or unnecessary noise.Public Property Use Regulation Bylaw No. 1098, 2009 (consolidated), s. 7.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingbetween the hours of 10 pm of one day and 7 am of the next day. |
| Construction hours | Continuous sound from construction, building, demolition, excavation, grading, clearing, property maintenance, repairing, loading or unloading is allowed between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., or as approved by Council.Public Property Use Regulation Bylaw No. 1098, 2009 (consolidated), s. 7.2(b); Noise Regulations, Noise Regulations page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingshall be allowed between the hours of 7 am and 10 pm or as approved by Council. construction, building, demolition, excavation, grading, clearing, property Continuous noise from construction or property maintenance is only allowed between 7 AM and 10 PM, unless otherwise approved by Council. |
| Other limits | Also banned: loud noise disturbing a hospital (s. 7.3); objectionable motor vehicle or vessel noise (s. 7.4); instruments, radios, speakers or amplifiers that disturb the neighbourhood (s. 7.5; the equipment can be impounded).Public Property Use Regulation Bylaw No. 1098, 2009 (consolidated), s. 7.3-7.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNoise Disturbing Hospital Motor Vehicle Noise Musical/Percussion Instruments and Amplified Sound may be removed, detained, or impounded by the Bylaw Enforcement Officer. |
| Who to call, business hours | Bylaw Services: 250-725-3229 ext. 706 (office) or 250-266-1674 (on-duty officer). Bylaw hours are 8 AM to 04:30 PM daily, with extended coverage in summer and holidays.Noise Regulations, Noise Regulations page, Contact · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wording250-725-3229 ext. 706 (Office) 250-266-1674 (On-Duty Officer) 8 AM to 04:30 PM (Daily) |
| Who to call, after hours | RCMP non-emergency line: 250-725-3242.Noise Regulations, Noise Regulations page, Contact · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingIf you require assistance outside of regular Bylaw Enforcement hours, please contact the RCMP. 250-725-3242 |
| Fine | Noise between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. (s. 7.1): bylaw notice $200 ($160 within 14 days; $240 after 60 days). Municipal ticket: $500 first offence, $1,000 second and later (half if paid within 7 business days). Amplified sound (s. 7.5): $200 on both schedules.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1107 (consolidated), Schedule A (Public Property Use Bylaw 7.1); Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 1088 (consolidated), Schedule 5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNoise disturbing the peace between 7.1 No $200 $160 $240 n/a Musical instrument/amplified sound 7.5 No $200 $160 $240 n/a Noise disturbing the peace between 10 PM and 7 AM, 1 offense 7.1 $500.00 7.1 $1,000.00 Fines as set out in all Schedules with the exception of Schedule 7 are reduced by 50% if the fine is paid within 7 business days of the date of issuance of the Municipal Ticketing Information. |
| Bylaw | Public Property Use Regulation Bylaw No. 1098, 2009Public Property Use Regulation Bylaw No. 1098, 2009 (consolidated), title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingPUBLIC PROPERTY USE REGULATION BYLAW NO. 1098, 2009 |
How it works
The Public Property Use Regulation Bylaw No. 1098 bans loud, objectionable or unnecessary noise anywhere in the District of Tofino that may disturb the peace, quiet, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of the neighbourhood between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Continuous sound that disturbs others is banned at any hour. "Continuous sound" means sound lasting more than two minutes, or totalling more than three minutes in any fifteen-minute period.
Good to know
- Continuous sound from construction, building, demolition, excavation, grading, clearing, property maintenance, repairing, loading or unloading is allowed between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., or as approved by Council. The bylaw gives no separate hours for weekends or holidays.
- Also banned: loud noise disturbing a hospital, objectionable motor vehicle or vessel noise, and instruments, radios, speakers or amplifiers that disturb the neighbourhood (the equipment can be impounded).
- The bylaw sets no decibel limits. Barking and other animal noise is covered by the animal control bylaw.
- Noise between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.: a bylaw notice is $200 ($160 within 14 days; $240 after 60 days). A municipal ticket is $500 for a first offence and $1,000 for a second and later (half if paid within 7 business days). Amplified sound is $200 on both. Hospital noise is $300.
- Call Bylaw Services during bylaw hours. Outside those hours, call the RCMP non-emergency line.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Ucluelet · Gold River · Port Alberni · Cumberland · Courtenay · Comox
Noise bylaws in British Columbia: quiet hours, construction hours and fines by municipality →
Sources
- Public Property Use Regulation Bylaw No. 1098, 2009 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino (read 2026-11-08)
- Noise Regulations, District of Tofino (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1107 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino (read 2026-11-08)
- Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 1088 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino (read 2026-11-08)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 8 of 8 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.