Loading and unloading activities, including delivery, packing, unpacking, and handling of containers, products, or materials are prohibited during certain hours:
Noise Regulations for Loading and Unloading
As per Toronto Municipal bylaw Chapter 591
- Noise is not permitted from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. the following day and until 9:00 a.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and statutory holidays.
Exempt from the bylaw
The noise bylaw does not apply to noise generated during the delivery of good to specific places. Deliveries to the following locations are exempt from the noise bylaw:
- Retail business establishments
- Restaurants
- Hotels and motels
- Goods distribution centres
- Waste collection
Resolving Noise Concerns
If you experience a noise disturbance from loading and unloading activities consider the following steps:
- Speak Directly to the Responsible Party: If possible, politely address the issue with the person responsible for the noise. This gives them the opportunity to correct the problem.
- Using Mediation: 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. Further information can be found by visiting the TNG Community Services website.
- Submit a Service Request: If direct communication does not resolve the issue, and the noise is occurring during prohibited hours you submit a complaint below or by calling 311.
Note: City staff may not investigate an isolated or infrequent noise complaint in order to ensure more persistent and recurring noise issues are investigated.
Noise complaints during permitted hours or those exempt from the bylaw
If you experience noise during the permitted hours or noise from one of the exempted activities listed above you can Report Permitted or Exempted Noise Complaint by clicking the Permitted or Exempted link below, or call 311.
Please note these complaints will be analyzed for patterns and trends to help form future policies. They will not be investigated on a case-by-case basis. For effective reporting, include as many details as possible, such as:
- The time and location of the noise
- The type of equipment used
- Any other details that can help identify the source of the disturbance
For further details on noise regulations, visit the Noise Bylaw webpage.
