Bylaw Bulletin: Noise Control

Most activities, especially in rural communities like the County of St. Paul, can be fairly noisy. Farm equipment, recreational vehicles, power tools – they all come with different levels of noise at different times of the day, as we expect while everyone goes about their day-to-day.

Sometimes, however, that noise can be excessive and occur at unexpected times of the day. This can be incredibly disruptive to neighbouring residents, affecting their peace and comfort in their own homes. To help mitigate these problems, the County has a Noise Control Bylaw.

What is considered ‘noise’?

Noise, as defined in the bylaw, is any sound that is likely (and is reported as such) to annoy or disturb a person, or which injures, endangers, or detracts from the comfort, health, peace and safety of a person within the boundaries of the County. If reported, the Bylaw Enforcement Officer will look at all circumstances, including time of day and the nature of the noisy activity, to determine if it is a violation of the Bylaw.

Sections 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the Noise Control Bylaw list the general and specific prohibitions that help property owners know what is expected of their activities, such as:

• General: carry out activities in a manner that creates as little Noise as practicable, and reduce or stop the Noise when directed by the Bylaw Enforcement Officer.
• General: not using Audible Bird Scare Devices at Night in the County’s Intermunicipal Development Plan Areas with the Town of Elk Point (except for in the Referral Lands).
• Motor Vehicles: to comply with the Traffic Safety Act (e.g. only using vehicle horns/bells when necessary, restricted use of mufflers, etc.)
• Commercial/Industrial: all work is compliant with laws and regulations, and any noise made is during business hours and normal for the industry.

“Night” plays a big part in the Bylaw, as a number of the prohibitions note that’s really when we should shut down any noise. The Bylaw specifies night as between 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following day on a weekday and between 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. the following day of a weekend or holiday.

So what can you do?

Like most bylaws, there are areas where the Noise Control Bylaw doesn’t apply, so residents can continue with their activities. These instances include:

• On request, County Administration may issue a permit to a person for the purpose of suspending the provisions of this Bylaw. The permit would specify the dates and hours during which Noise may occur (e.g. for a special event, like live music).
• Producers carrying out an Agricultural Operation, including the operation of farm equipment.
• Work is carried out by persons who own and operate domestic equipment, as long as the work is temporary or intermittent, the equipment has been properly maintained, and isn’t operated at night.

Let’s be mindful of our surroundings

Noise is inevitable in our day-to-day, but we can work together to ensure that the noise we make isn’t too disruptive to our neighbours. Rules of thumb? Reduce when possible, keep it temporary, and shut it down at night.

If you’re being affected by excessive noise within your property’s proximity, please pick up or print out our Bylaw Complaint Form. Completed forms can be brought in person, mailed to, or put in the drop box at the County Administration Office at 5015 49 Avenue, St. Paul AB, T0A 3A4.

Bylaw Bulletin is a monthly feature for one of the County’s bylaws, helping residents to understand the bylaws we do have and how to avoid being penalized for any bylaw offences unknowingly.