GovHandbook

Victoria noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines

What are the noise rules and quiet hours?

Victoria, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

Victoria's Noise Bylaw 03-012 has no single quiet-hours rule. It bans noise that disturbs neighbours and sets lower decibel limits at "nighttime", which means outside daytime. Daytime is 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Sundays and holidays.

Key facts

General ruleNo one may make a noise in a street, park or plaza that disturbs the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of people nearby. An owner or occupier of property must not make or allow a noise that can be easily heard off the premises and disturbs the neighbourhood.Noise Bylaw 03-012 (consolidated to February 1, 2015), s. 11(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
a person must not make or cause a noise or sound in a street, park, plaza
which can be easily heard by a person not on the same premises and which disturbs or tends to disturb
Quiet hoursNo single quiet-hours rule. Lower decibel limits apply at "nighttime", meaning any time outside daytime. Daytime is 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Sundays and holidays. Noise clearly audible in a residential area between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. can still break the bylaw.Noise Bylaw 03-012 (consolidated to February 1, 2015), ss. 3, 11(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on a week day or Saturday;
from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on a Sunday or holiday;
means any time not included within the definition of daytime under this Bylaw;
is clearly audible at a point of reception in a residential area between the hours of 10:00 p.m. one day and 7:00 a.m. the
Construction hoursConstruction that disturbs the quiet is allowed only 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays that are not holidays and 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturdays that are not holidays, so not on Sundays or holidays. Construction noise over 85 dBA near homes is never allowed (except work within a street).Noise Bylaw 03-012 (consolidated to February 1, 2015), s. 19(1), (3) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on a weekday that is not a holiday;
between 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on a Saturday that is not a holiday.
exceeds 85 dBA on an approved sound meter
Other limitsDecibel limits by district, for example 55 dBA by day and 45 dBA at night received in a Quiet District. Leaf blowers: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekends and holidays, 65 dBA. Chainsaws: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekends and holidays. Amplified sound from a vehicle audible at 5 m is banned. Commercial music: 70 dBC day, 65 dBC night.Noise Bylaw 03-012 (consolidated to February 1, 2015), ss. 5, 12, 15, 17, 18 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
55 dBA when received at a point of reception in a Quiet District;
45 dBA when received at a point of reception in a Quiet District;
between 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on a weekday, or
between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday;
can easily be heard by a person of normal hearing acuity at a distance of 5 m
70 dBC during the daytime;
Who to call, business hoursCommunity Safety and Bylaw Services answers noise complaints from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week; report through the City's online Report a Bylaw Violation form. General bylaw inquiries: 250.361.0215.Report a Bylaw Violation, Noise; Community Safety and Bylaw Services, General Inquiries · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Bylaw responds to noise complaints between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., seven days a week.
please email bylawservices@victoria.ca or call 250.361.0215.
Who to call, after hoursVictoria Police non-emergency line, 250.995.7654, if the noise is too loud or unbearable. Bylaw follows up complaints made outside 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. the next day.Report a Bylaw Violation, Noise · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Bylaw will follow up with complaints made outside of these hours, the next day.
please contact the Victoria Police non-emergency line at 250.995.7654.
FineBylaw notice (Bylaw 16-017) and municipal ticket (Bylaw 10-071) share base amounts of $250 to $400 by offence. Noise disturbing the neighbourhood (s. 11(1)) $350 (notice $262.50 within 14 days; ticket $300 within 30 days). Construction at a prohibited time (s. 19(3)) $350. Animal or bird noise $250 ($187.50; $200).Ticket Bylaw 10-071 (consolidated June 18, 2026), Schedule U; Bylaw Notice Adjudication Bylaw 16-017, Schedule B, Schedule S · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Noise in public - 11(1)(b) $350.00 $300.00
Construction at 19(3) $350.00 $300.00
Noise exceeding limit 5/6/7/8 $400.00 $350.00
Animal/bird noise 12(1)(c) $250.00 $200.00
19(3) Construction at prohibited time $350.00 $87.50 $87.50
12(1)(c) Animal/bird noise $250.00 $62.50 $62.50
BylawNoise Bylaw No. 03-012Noise Bylaw 03-012 (consolidated to February 1, 2015), Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
NOISE BYLAW BYLAW NO. 03-012 This consolidation is a copy of a bylaw consolidated under the authority of

How it works

Under the Noise Bylaw 03-012, no one may make a noise in a street, park or plaza that disturbs the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of people nearby. An owner or occupier of property must not make or allow a noise that can be easily heard off the premises and disturbs the neighbourhood.

The bylaw also sets decibel limits by noise district, for example 55 dBA by day and 45 dBA at night received in a Quiet District. Lower limits apply at "nighttime", meaning any time outside daytime. Noise clearly audible in a residential area between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. can still break the bylaw.

Steps

  1. Check the rule for your activity in the list below.
  2. To report noise, use the City's Report a Bylaw Violation form. Bylaw and Community Safety Services answers noise complaints from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week.
  3. If the noise is too loud or unbearable outside those hours, call the Victoria Police non-emergency line at 250-995-7654. Bylaw follows up complaints made outside those hours the next day.

Good to know

  • Construction that disturbs the quiet is allowed only 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays that are not holidays and 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturdays that are not holidays. It is not allowed on Sundays or holidays. Construction noise over 85 dBA near homes is never allowed, except work within a street.
  • Leaf blowers: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays, at no more than 65 dBA.
  • Chainsaws: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
  • Amplified sound from a vehicle that is audible at 5 m is banned. Commercial music is limited to 70 dBC by day and 65 dBC at night.
  • Events with amplified sound need a Noise Bylaw exemption. Construction exemptions are decided by the Chief Building Inspector; the City page says the fee is $50 and asks for an acoustical engineer's report and letters of support from neighbours.
  • Fines: noise disturbing the neighbourhood is $350 for both. A bylaw notice (Bylaw 16-017) drops to $262.50 if paid within 14 days; a municipal ticket (Bylaw 10-071) drops to $300 if paid within 30 days. Construction at a prohibited time is also $350. Animal or bird noise is $250 ($187.50 within 14 days on a notice; $200 within 30 days on a ticket).

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Oak Bay · Esquimalt · View Royal · Saanich · Colwood · Langford

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

Sources

  1. Noise Bylaw, City of Victoria (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Noise Bylaw 03-012 (consolidated to February 1, 2015) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Ticket Bylaw 10-071 (consolidated June 18, 2026) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Bylaw Notice Adjudication Bylaw 16-017, Schedule B (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Report a Bylaw Violation, City of Victoria (read 2026-11-05)
  6. Community Safety and Bylaw Services, City of Victoria (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. How answers are checked.