The City is reviewing the successes and challenges of implementing the Noise Bylaw, which was amended in 2019. Six public consultations were held from September 12 to 21 and email feedback was accepted until October 15. The input from the public consultations and email submissions will be used to recommend refinements to the Noise Bylaw in a staff report expected at the Economic Community and Development Committee in January 2024. Subscribe below to receive key updates on this review.
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 needs of residents and visitors and provides time restrictions and sound level limits for various types of noise.
The Noise Bylaw was amended in 2019 and the amendments resulted in the introduction of sound level limits for amplified sound and motorcycles, enhancements to the noise exemption permit process and the introduction of a dedicated noise enforcement team with late night coverage.
The City is reviewing the implementation progress to examine the successes and outstanding challenges related to the bylaw. The review aims to assess the bylaw amendments made in 2019 and consider proposed refinements, including:
The City also intends to respond to additional issues as part of the implementation review, including potential decibel limits for power devices (such as leaf blowers and lawn mowers), regulations for waste collection noise, noise fees and strengthening the noise exemption permit process.
The City does not have jurisdiction over aircraft noise and does not regulate noise related to government construction projects (for example, major transit infrastructure projects). These topics are not be a focus of the review.
Residents were invited to provide feedback on the bylaw and share their experience with the implementation at six virtual and in-person public consultations from September 12 – 21.
You can refer to a summary of the proposals considered and implemented during the 2019 bylaw review and a reference sheet on the potential bylaw refinements that are being considered.
Email feedback was accepted until October 15, 2023.
When the comment period closed on October 15, 2023, the City heard from over 750 participants at six consultations and received over 2,200 emails with feedback. The input from the public consultations and email submissions will be used to recommend refinements to the Noise Bylaw in a staff report expected at the Economic Community and Development Committee in January 2024.
The City has also procured an independent acoustical engineering firm to provide a technical review of the bylaw and a firm to conduct broad public opinion research.
The Noise Bylaw was comprehensively reviewed between 2015 and 2019. To inform this review, a Noise Working Group was established, a technical review of the bylaw was conducted by a third-party engineering firm, public opinion research was carried out, and a series of public consultations were facilitated by a third-party facilitator.
When the amended bylaw came into effect in 2019, the City was directed to report back on implementation, success and outstanding issues a year after the bylaw was implemented. This report has been delayed as City resources were diverted to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and as the Province of Ontario introduced regulations to limit the City’s authority to regulate noise during the pandemic.
In 2022, a Report on Outstanding Noise Directives was adopted by City Council that responded to various City Council directives related to power device and motor vehicle noise.
Subscribe to receive key updates related to the City’s implementation review of amendments made to the Noise Bylaw in 2019. These updates will report back on the implementation, success and outstanding issues related to the amended bylaw.
Notice of Collection Statement
The City of Toronto collects personal information on this form under the legal authority of the City of Toronto Act, 2006. The information will be used to confirm and administer subscription to electronic notifications regarding the City of Toronto Noise By-law. By subscribing to one of the City of Toronto’s e-updates you are providing express consent, as defined by the Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL), to receive email updates from the City of Toronto. Questions about this collection can be directed to the Manager, Policy and Planning Services, Municipal Licensing and Standards, City Hall, 100 Queen St. W., West Tower, 16th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 2N2 or by telephone at 416-392-9830.