{"title":"Williams Lake noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines","question":"What are the noise rules and quiet hours in Williams Lake?","slug":"noise-rules","place":{"path":"ca/bc/williams-lake","name":"Williams Lake","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"bylaws-and-complaints","name":"Bylaws, noise and complaints"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of Williams Lake","url":"https://www.williamslake.ca"},"short_answer":"Williams Lake's Good Neighbour Bylaw bans noise that disturbs the quiet, peace or comfort of people nearby, at any hour. It sets no general fixed quiet hours; it sets hours only for lawn and garden equipment (10 p.m. to 7 a.m. weekdays) and construction (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.).","aliases":["quiet hours williams lake","noise bylaw williams lake","lawn mower hours williams lake","construction noise williams lake","barking dog noise williams lake"],"cost":"Bylaw notice $100 for noise that tends to disturb ($75 if paid within 14 days; $125 if paid late). Excessive noise $500; construction noise outside hours $150.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"online","label":"Bylaw complaint form","value":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/items/Item/public.aspx?TypeID=17"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Bylaw Services office","value":"230 Hodgson Rd, Williams Lake","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."},{"type":"phone","label":"City Hall front desk","value":"250-392-2311"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw page","url":"https://www.williamslake.ca/647/Good-Neighbour-Bylaw"},{"title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw 2194, 2014 (consolidated, PDF)","url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/67409"}],"related":[{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Williams Lake bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/bylaw-fines/"},{"slug":"unsightly-property","title":"Williams Lake unsightly property rules and how to report","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/unsightly-property/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/100-mile-house","name":"100 Mile House","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/noise-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/quesnel","name":"Quesnel","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/noise-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/clearwater","name":"Clearwater","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/noise-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lillooet","name":"Lillooet","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lillooet/noise-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/ashcroft","name":"Ashcroft","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/noise-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/barriere","name":"Barriere","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/noise-rules/"}],"topic":{"title":"Noise bylaws in British Columbia: quiet hours, construction hours and fines by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/noise-rules/"},"facts":{"general_rule":{"label":"General rule","value":"No one may make or allow noise on a highway or public place, or from property they own or occupy, that disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of people nearby.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/67409","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2194, 2014 (consolidated)","section":"s. 6.5.1","quotes":["No person shall make or cause, or permit to be made or caused, any noise in or on a","disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet,"]},{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/67409","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2194, 2014 (consolidated)","section":"s. 6.5.2","quotes":["No person being the owner, occupier or tenant of Real Property shall allow or permit"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"quiet_hours":{"label":"Quiet hours","value":null,"status":"none","note":"Williams Lake's Good Neighbour Bylaw sets no fixed quiet hours for ordinary noise.","sources":[]},"construction_hours":{"label":"Construction hours","value":"Construction, repair, demolition, excavation or fill work that causes disturbing noise is not allowed before 7 a.m. or after 10 p.m. on any day. The Senior Building Inspector may grant an exemption for necessary work at set hours.","short":"7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/67409","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2194, 2014 (consolidated)","section":"s. 6.6(e)","quotes":["no person in the City shall, on any day before 7:00 am or after 10:00 pm, construct, erect, reconstruct, alter, repair or demolish any"]},{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/67409","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2194, 2014 (consolidated)","section":"s. 6.3.1","quotes":["the Senior Building Inspector may grant an exemption to carry out work that is found to be necessary"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":"The City's Good Neighbour Bylaw web page says 'Construction for gain on Sunday would be allowed between 8 AM and 10 PM.' The bylaw text sets 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on every day, with no separate Sunday rule; the bylaw is followed here."},"other_limits":{"label":"Other limits","value":"Lawn and garden equipment may not run 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday to Friday, or 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Also covered: amplified sound disturbing neighbours, animals or birds whose cries unduly disturb, mobile public address systems, boat exhausts. No decibel limits. Exempt: emergency work, farm operations, household equipment, licensed trades in commercial or industrial zones.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/67409","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2194, 2014 (consolidated)","section":"s. 6.6(d)","quotes":["between the hours of 10:00 pm and 7:00 am Monday to Friday and between the hours of 10:00 pm","and 8:00 am on Saturday or Sunday, or a Statutory/Civic Holiday"]},{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/67409","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2194, 2014 (consolidated)","section":"s. 6.6(c)","quotes":["no person shall own, keep or harbour any"]},{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/67409","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2194, 2014 (consolidated)","section":"s. 6.2.1","quotes":["Performing works of an emergency nature for the preservation or protection of","Farm operations conducted in accordance with normal farm practices"]},{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/67409","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2194, 2014 (consolidated)","section":"s. 6.6(a)","quotes":["No person shall play or operate any radio, stereophonic equipment or other"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"contact_day":{"label":"Who to call, business hours","value":"City Bylaw Services: phone the City Hall front desk at 250-392-2311, or visit the office at 230 Hodgson Rd, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The City asks for complaints in writing with your name, phone number and the address.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.williamslake.ca/270/Bylaw-Services","title":"Bylaw Services, City of Williams Lake","section":"page","quotes":["By phone at 250-392-2311","Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.","The name and phone number of the complainant must be provided","In person at our offices at 230 Hodgson Rd., Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"contact_after_hours":{"label":"Who to call, after hours","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_published","note":"The City does not state an after-hours noise contact.","sources":[]},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice: $100 for noise that tends to disturb ($75 if paid within 14 days; $125 late). $500 for excessive noise ($450 early; $550 late). Construction noise outside permitted hours: $150 ($115 early; $190 late). Lawn equipment outside hours: $100.","short":"Notice $100 ($75 if paid in 14 days)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/61839","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2196, 2013 (consolidated), Schedule A-20","section":"Schedule A-20 / Noise offences, bylaw notice amounts","quotes":["Noise which tends to","disturb","$100.00","Excessive Noise which","$500.00","$450.00","$550.00","in public Noise Regulations Failure to meet 6.4 $100.00 $75.00 $125.00 No conditions of operating a public mobile address system Noise which tends to 6.5 $100.00 $75.00 $125.00 No disturb BL2239 Excessive Noise which 6.5.3 $500.00 $450.00 $550.00 No"]},{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/61839","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2196, 2013 (consolidated), Schedule A-20","section":"Schedule A-20","quotes":["prior to or after permitted hours Construction noise 6.6.1(e) $150.00 $115.00 $190.00 No outside of permitted hours"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2194, 2014","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/67409","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2194, 2014 (consolidated)","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["This Bylaw may be cited as \"City of Williams Lake Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2194,"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":8,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":1,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nPart 6 of the [Good Neighbour Bylaw](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/67409) says no one may make or allow noise, on a street, in a public place or from property they own or occupy, that disturbs or tends to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of people nearby. A higher-penalty offence applies where a bylaw officer or RCMP member deems the noise excessive. There are no decibel limits.\n\n## Hours\n\n- No general quiet hours: the bylaw sets no fixed hours for ordinary noise.\n- Lawn and garden equipment: not allowed 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday to Friday, or 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.\n- Construction, repair, demolition, excavation or fill work that causes disturbing noise: not allowed before 7 a.m. or after 10 p.m. on any day. The Senior Building Inspector may grant an exemption for necessary work at set hours.\n- Also covered: amplified sound that disturbs neighbours, animals or birds whose cries unduly disturb, mobile public address systems and boat exhausts.\n- Exempt: emergency work, farm operations, household equipment and licensed trades in commercial or industrial zones.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. If it is safe, ask the neighbour first.\n2. Otherwise phone City Hall at 250-392-2311 or visit the Bylaw Services office at 230 Hodgson Rd, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The City asks for complaints in writing with your name, phone number and the address.\n3. The City does not state an after-hours noise contact.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The City's web page on the bylaw says the restriction runs 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday to Friday and 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. on weekends and holidays. The bylaw text applies those hours to lawn and garden equipment, not all noise.\n- The same page says construction for gain on Sunday is allowed from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The bylaw sets 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day, so check with the City.\n- Bylaw notices: $100 for noise that tends to disturb ($75 if paid within 14 days; $125 if paid late); $500 for excessive noise ($450 early; $550 late); $150 for construction noise outside permitted hours ($115 early; $190 late); $100 for lawn equipment outside the hours.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.williamslake.ca/647/Good-Neighbour-Bylaw","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw, City of Williams Lake","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/67409","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2194, 2014 (consolidated)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/61839","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2196, 2013 (consolidated), Schedule A-20","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.williamslake.ca/270/Bylaw-Services","title":"Bylaw Services, City of Williams Lake","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"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."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/noise-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/noise-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/noise-rules.json"}}