We’ve all dealt with an obnoxious, noisy neighbour at some point, especially when living in the big cities. If you have the bad luck of living next door to a loud neighbour, or if you’re a landlord and have received complaints about one of your tenants, know there are a series of ways to help you recover the peace and quiet everyone in the neighbourhood deserves.
Calgary Noise Bylaws on Residential Properties
The city of Calgary has bylaws that regulate noise caused by residential properties, and neighbours have the right not to be disturbed at certain hours of the day. Noise can include loud music, yelling, power tools, or air conditioners. Also, using machines, like hand lawn mowers, is prohibited at night hours.
Neighbours cannot cause continuous noise that exceeds:
- 65 decibels measured over a one hour period during the day-time; or
- 50 decibels measured over a one hour period during the night-time;
- 85 decibels for bass noise for outdoor concerts
Also, neighbours cannot cause non-continuous noise that exceeds the:
- 85 decibels measured over 15 minutes during the day-time; or
- 75 decibels measured over 15 minutes during the night-time;
Note that you’re responsible for all noises made by someone or something in your household, for example, a barking dog is your responsibility even if it isn’t your fault.
4 Tips to Reduce the Noise on Your Own
Before talking to your neighbour, there are a few things you can do that can mitigate the noise considerably:
Use Noise-Cancelling Headphones and Earplugs
If you work from home, invest in a pair of headphones to help you isolate neighbours’ noises and help you concentrate. And when it’s time to go to bed, foam earplugs are the way to go. Note that there’s a variety of earplugs, and their effectiveness in blocking noise varies by a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR), going from 15 to 35 decibels.
Install Sound-absorbing Curtains
Like blackout curtains, there are ones designed to reduce the unwanted sounds coming from outside. These drapes are especially helpful at night because they will keep the light out and prevent the warm or cool air from escaping the room.
Reduce Echo and Sound Reverberation With More Furniture
You may have noticed that every time you move out and remove all the furniture, you can hear more clearly sounds, footsteps, and voices around you in the empty rooms. Adding an extra couch or rug to fill up the spaces will help reduce the echo.
Use Under Door Draft Blockers
Besides preventing cool air and unpleasant insects like ants from entering your home, door draft blockers effectively absorb the noise that enters through the space left between the door and the floor.
If nothing seems to work and your neighbour’s noise is still tormenting you or your tenant, here’s what you can do:
Speak With Your Neighbour
You may feel intimidated by the prospect of confronting your neighbour, but most of the time, people aren’t aware of how loud they are being and are very understanding of these requests. With just one kind request to keep it down, the problem is solved in most cases.
Talk to the Manager
If you live in a condo or apartment complex, chances are you have an on-site manager who can talk to your neighbour or offer alternative solutions. If you’re a landlord, you can communicate with the manager on behalf of your tenant.
File a Noise Complaint
The City of Calgary offers phone service to receive violation complaints of the noise bylaws not caused by criminal activity. If you have tried all the mechanisms possible and your neighbour keeps disturbing you, call 311 and describe the complaint to the authorities.
Noisy neighbours are a pain, but there are many ways to solve the problem before escalating the conflict further. If you’re a landlord dealing with tenants’ complaints due to noisy neighbours, hiring a property management company can be the solution to handle this type of issue quickly and accordingly without disrupting your daily life. Contact us to get a quote.
