In a city as large and vibrant as Toronto, certain levels of noise are reasonable and reflect life in a densely populated city. The Noise Bylaw balances the city’s vibrancy with the well-being of residents and visitors by setting time restrictions and sound level limits for different types of noise.
Noise complaints are prioritized to ensure that the more frequent and disruptive issues can be addressed effectively. As a result, City staff may not investigate an isolated or infrequent noise complaint in order to ensure more persistent and recurring noise issues are investigated. Bylaw enforcement officers are not emergency responders, do not respond to noise complaints on an emergency basis, and do not have the authority to immediately stop a noise event.
Before submitting a noise complaint, please review the information below and the types of complaints the City is able to address.
Use the list below to determine which type of noise fits your concern. For sounds that are not allowed, bylaw enforcement officers may, if required, use sound meters to measure sounds and compare the results against the standards outlined in the Noise Bylaw.
Note that certain types of noise are allowed and are exempt from Noise Bylaw restrictions, including:
Definition: Sounds from loudspeakers that are connected to electronic devices and meant to amplify music, voices, or other sounds (e.g. nightclubs, bars, restaurants, cafes, patios or concerts). This also includes any musical instrument sounds, amplified or not. Learn more about amplified music on patios.
Rules: Amplified sound is not allowed:
Definition: Noise from animals, such as barking, calling, or whining.
Rules: Persistent and frequent animal noise is not allowed at any time. To report a complaint, you must provide the address where the animal resides. See more information about reporting a noisy animal.
Definition: Noise from building, changing or fixing structures; land clearing, grading, or excavation; laying pipes; building streets and highways; applying concrete; installing, changing, and use construction equipment.
Rules: Construction noise is not allowed if clearly audible during the following times:
Definition: Sound resulting from loading or unloading, delivering, packing or unpacking, and otherwise handling any containers, products or materials.
Rules: Loading and unloading noise is not allowed during the following times:
Exceptions: These rules do not apply to:
Definition: Sound from a vehicle that has a motor, such as a car, motorcycle, or motor assisted bicycle (it does NOT include streetcars, power-assisted bicycles, snowmobiles, tractors, farm equipment, or road-building machines).
Rules: Motor vehicles and motorcycle noises are not allowed in the following situations:
For noise issues from moving vehicles (e.g. any loud, persistent, or excessive noise generated by motor vehicles while in motion, such as a speeding vehicle, loud music, loud exhaust, high squealing tires, revving engines, honking horns):
Definition: Sound resulting from equipment used to service or maintain property or lawns (e.g. chainsaws, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, grass trimmers, pressure washers).
Rules: Noise from power devices is not allowed during the following times:
Exceptions: These rules do not apply to equipment used for:
Learn the rules for using leaf blowers, including alternative ways to deal with fallen leaves and methods to reduce noise and other impacts with leaf blowers.
Definition: Noise from sources that do not typically move from place to place, such as residential air conditioners, heat pumps, generators, and fans.
Rules: Noise from these sources is not allowed if:
If you are concerned about sounds made by stationary sources from industrial facilities, please contact your local Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change office as this type of sound may be regulated by the provincial government who have jurisdiction over these situations.
If you are concerned about sounds made by stationary sources from industrial facilities, please contact your local Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change office as this type of sound may be regulated by the provincial government who have jurisdiction to determine compliance.
Definition: Noise that is not listed in the categories above but is unreasonable and persistent (e.g. ongoing building or equipment alarms, neighbours dropping gym equipment during unreasonable hours). This includes any noise or vibration that disturbs the peace, comfort, or convenience of a reasonable person, with the exception of typical household or workplace sounds.
Rules: Unreasonable & Persistent Noise is not allowed if it is:
We encourage residents to exercise a reasonable degree of tolerance given the nature of city life and denser populations.
If you are unable to resolve the issue and the noise is not covered under an exemption permit, see below for guidelines on who to contact.
| Example Situations | Contact |
|---|---|
| Neighbour continually making noise | Your Landlord, Condo Management or a Mediator |
| Someone is yelling/making noise as a result of a mental health crisis. | Mental Health Support: 211 |
| Excessively noisy parties such as where people are spilling onto the street, noise from people acting disorderly such as screaming or fighting, or overly noisy demonstrations. | Police Non-Emergency Line: 416-808-2222 |
| Situation that requires immediate assistance from a police officer, firefighter, or a paramedic. | Emergency: 911 |
| Sounds made by stationary sources of industrial facilities. | Contact your local Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change office |
| Persistent and unreasonable noise that’s not covered by an exemption. Note that City of Toronto bylaw enforcement officers will not be able to respond immediately. | City of Toronto Bylaw Enforcement: 311 or |
The goal is to resolve the issue and achieve compliance with the bylaw. A bylaw enforcement officer will be assigned to respond to your complaints and will contact you according to the assessed priority of the complaints.
Each issue is addressed on case-by-case basis to make sure reasonable, fair and appropriate actions are taken. If there is a possible noise bylaw violation, the officer may conduct an investigation. Bylaw officers use sound meters to measure noise and compare it to bylaw standards.
Outcomes may include education, mediation, or other enforcement actions. In the event that legal action is necessary, you may be asked to provide a witness statement and give evidence in court.
The City does not respond to:
In situations where no formal investigation will be done, data from complaints is still captured by the City to inform future policies.
Certain types of noise are exempt from the Noise Bylaw or outside of the scope, including:
Bylaw enforcement officers also do not respond to demonstrations, noisy parties or noise from people acting disorderly, such as yelling, screaming and fighting. To report these types of noise, call the Toronto Police Service non-emergency number at 416-808-2222 or call 911 for emergencies.
Individuals and organizations can apply for a noise exemption permit for specific events or activities that may be in contravention of the Noise Bylaw if all application requirements are met. Learn more about the noise exemption process and how to apply for noise exemption permit. Any holders of a noise exemption permit must comply with its conditions.
The City has partnered with TNG Community Services, an organization that provides free voluntary community mediation services to Toronto residents, as an alternative means to resolving a dispute with the help of neutral mediators.
Mediation can help deliver better service, divert some cases from bylaw enforcement, and get to the root cause of long-standing community or neighbour-to-neighbour issues. The process is separate from bylaw enforcement and completely confidential.
Residents may seek resolution to their issue using mediation services directly to TNG Community Services:
Residents can contact 311 to submit a noise complaint. If there is a complaint or information about a possible violation, Bylaw Enforcement Officers investigate, educate and/or take enforcement actions.
The goal is to resolve issues and ensure that residents and business are following bylaws. Each issue is addressed on case-by-case basis to make sure reasonable, fair and appropriate actions are taken. For example, in some cases the issue may be resolved through education. In other cases, a referral to mediation services, or further enforcement action is required.
If a resident or business does not comply with the Noise Bylaw, they are guilty of an offence. If they are issued a ticket and convicted, they may have to pay a fine for the offence set out in the table below.
If they are issued a summons to court and convicted, they may have to pay a fine up to $100,000 or a daily fine of up to $10,000 for each day the violation continues. In addition, they may have to pay a special fine for economic gains from the bylaw violation. If it is a corporation, every director or officer may have to pay a fine of no more than $100,000.
| Offence | Bylaw Provision | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Emit, cause or permit amplified sound exceeding permitted level at outdoor point of reception. | 591-2.1A | $800 |
| Emit, cause or permit amplified sound exceeding permitted level at indoor point of reception. | 591-2.1B | $800 |
| Cause or permit persistent noise by an animal. | 591-2.2 | $500 |
| Emit, cause or permit sound from construction equipment or construction activity during prohibited time period. | 591-2.3 | $900 |
| Emit, cause or permit sound from loading or unloading during prohibited time period. | 591-2.4 | $500 |
| Emit, cause or permit sound from unnecessary motor vehicle noise audible at point of reception. | 591-2.5A | $800 |
| Emit, cause or permit sound from repairing, rebuilding, modifying, or testing a vehicle audible at point of reception during prohibited time period. | 591-2.5B | $800 |
| Emit, cause or permit sound from a motorcycle exceeding the permitted level. | 591-2.5C | $800 |
| Emit, cause or permit sound from a power device during prohibited time period. | 591-2.6A | $500 |
| Make, cause or permit sound that disturbs a religious ceremony. | 591-2.7 | $500 |
| Cause, permit sound from a stationary source or residential air conditioner that exceeds permitted level at point of reception. | 591-2.8A | $500 |
| Cause or permit sound from a stationary source exceeding permitted level at indoor point of reception in a living area. | 591-2.8B | $500 |
| Cause or permit sound from a residential air conditioner (or similar residential device) exceeding permitted level at outdoor point of reception in a living area. | 591-2.8D | $500 |
| Cause or permit sound from a residential air conditioner (or similar residential device), exceeding permitted level at indoor point of reception in a living area. | 591-2.8E | $500 |
| Make, cause or permit noise that is unreasonable and persistent. | 591-2.9A | $500 |
| Fail to comply with an exemption permit. | 591-4.1B | $900 |
In November 2024, City Council approved a process to address complaints related to waste collection noise. While noise generated from waste collection is currently allowed under the Noise Bylaw, residents can still report noise that is disturbing or disrupting them. When a report is made, staff will review it and forward the complaint details to the waste collector and work with them to resolve the issue.
As part of the effort to address these noise complaints, staff will be publishing a quarterly update of all waste collection noise service requests received and their outcomes. The table below outlines the number of unique complaints received and actioned by the City.
| Period | Service Requests Received | Service Requests Actioned | Service Requests Resolved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2025
(Jan 1 to Mar 31) |
17 | 17 | 8* |
*Most unresolved requests are in progress (pending a response from the operator or being actively investigated).
The City has developed a guidance document for waste collectors, property managers and residents, that may be referred to for best practices to mitigate noise from waste collection operations. This guidance document was developed in collaboration with Waste to Resource Ontario.
In 2023, the City conducted an implementation review of the successes and changes to the Noise Bylaw (2024.EC9.5). In 2024, City Council adopted updates to the Noise Bylaw and key changes came into effect on June 1, including:
Changes to modernize the noise exemption permit process, which updated the requirements, criteria, timelines, and fees, came into effect on September 1, 2024.
In November 2024, City Council approved a process to address complaints related to waste collection noise. While noise generated from waste collection is currently allowed under the Noise Bylaw, residents can still report noise that is disturbing or disrupting them. When a report is made, staff will review it and forward the complaint details to the waste collector and work with them to resolve the issue.
As part of the effort to address these noise complaints, staff will be publishing a quarterly update of all waste collection noise service requests received and their outcomes. The table below outlines the number of unique complaints received and actioned by the City.
| Period | Service Requests Received | Service Requests Actioned | Service Requests Resolved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2025 (Jan 1 to Mar 31) | 17 | 17 | 8* |
*Most unresolved requests are in progress (pending a response from the operator or being actively investigated).
The City has developed a guidance document 
for waste collectors, property managers and residents, that may be referred to for best practices to mitigate noise from waste collection operations. This guidance document was developed in collaboration with Waste to Resource Ontario 
.