It appears Port Coquitlam's mayor also thinks recent amendments to the city's noise bylaws are too "restrictive."
As a result, Brad West says he plans on tabling a repeal tomorrow (July 29) in response to public concerns about the changes in hopes of reverting back to the previous rules.
West explains he's spoken with other city councillors and "many" share the same concerns despite ultimately approving the changes on July 19 to give bylaw officers more tools to address dozens of complaints each year.
He was not around the horseshoe for the initial vote to amend the noise bylaw (No. 4273).
"Our city has distinguished itself with a common sense approach and these changes fail to meet that standard," says West in a social media post, claiming the old bylaw "served the city quite well" despite 145 complaints last year and 144 in 2020.
"....and going back to our previous bylaw which I think, overall, has served the city quite well."
PoCo defines problem noise as continuous noise, which is any noise or sound lasting longer than three minutes, or occurring continually, sporadically or erratically but totalling more than three minutes in any 15-minute period of time.
One of the bigger reactions to the bylaw change was the gardening restrictions, in which homeowners are not allowed to mow their lawns, weed whack or trim the hedges after 7 p.m. — two hours earlier than the previous 9 p.m. curfew.
Noise-level restrictions were also increased to 50 decibels (dB) from 45 during the day and 55 at night, which is the average range of most Lower Mainland municipalities.
For comparison, Port Moody has a 55 dB level for the day and 45 dB for night. Coquitlam has no decibel restrictions, as of this publication.
Among the noise complaints from Port Coquitlam residents in 2021 included:
- 66 = "noise which disturbs"
- 32 = construction noise
- 30 = animal behaviour
- 17 = amplified music, speech after hours
"Noise which disturbs is highly subjective and includes things such as sports (i.e. noise from basketball, pickle ball, tennis, and pools), high pitched or high frequency sounds, daycare noise, noise from businesses, and exhaust fans," staff stated in a report to Port Coquitlam council dated July 12.
The report states fines for violating the new bylaw amendments range from $210 to $500.
West is seeking a repeal of the noise bylaw changes in a special virtual city council meeting set for Friday at 10 a.m.
You can view the meeting via the City of Port Coquitlam's website.
Bylaw changes
Recent amendments to PoCo's noise bylaw includes following:
- Noise is prohibited from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. — one hour earlier from the previous 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. restriction to recognize that some people work shifts and the need for quiet should be expanded
- New definitions for day and night — "Day" = 7 a.m .to 10 p.m., "Night" = 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Construction noise is only permitted between Monday and Friday (except holidays) between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. and Saturday (except holidays) between the hours of 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. However, a provision has been added to permit home owners to do construction activities on their residence on a Sunday or statutory holiday, such as deck repair.
- New statutory holidays have been amended to include Thanksgiving, as well as Family Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Hours that lawn and garden tool noise is permitted is limited to the hours of 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., down from from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. This change "reduces the window for noise disturbance created by lawn equipment, recognizing that residents may want to enjoy their outdoor space, that people have varied work shifts, or young children trying to sleep."
- A provision has been added to permit garbage truck noise from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Saturday, and between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Sundays or statutory holidays, acknowledging that some private contractors work on Sundays while still limiting the hours to avoid disturbing residents.
- Fines will be in the $210 to $500 range
- Vehicle noise that causes a nuisance is prohibited and comes with a $300 fine. The city hopes this will address vehicles with loud exhaust or modified mufflers that are "consistently disturbing."
- A variation in the Noise Regulation Bylaw can be requested with permission in writing from the Manager of Building or Manager of Bylaw Services.
- with files from Diane Strandberg, Tri-City News
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