The City wants to ensure neighbourhoods are safe and enjoyable for residents. As part of this, the bylaw enforcement team works hard to regulate excessive noise across the city.

Make sure you're complying with the City's Noise Bylaw.

The following activities are prohibited at all times in residential areas:

• Any amplified music or sound that is coming from a speaker or a device
• Construction, or use of construction equipment, on Sundays and holidays
• Persistent noise-making by a household pet or pets

The following activities are prohibited in a residential area between designated hours:

• Playing musical instruments, including percussion instruments, is prohibited from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. and before 9 a.m. on Sundays
• Construction activity including erection, alteration, repair, dismantling is prohibited from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and on Sundays and holidays.
• The loading, unloading, delivering, packing, unpacking or otherwise handling any containers, products, other materials or refuse, unless necessary for the maintenance of essential services or the moving of private household effects is prohibited from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and on Sundays and holidays.

Not sure about the noise regulations for your neighbourhood? Check the City's Noise Bylaw map.

Report an infraction

To report noise infractions during our business hours, call 613-546-4291 ext. 3135 or bylawenforcement@cityofkingston.ca. To report noise infraction outside of business hours, contact the Kingston Police non-emergency line at 613-549-4660.

Noise Exemption Applications

Apply for a temporary exemption to provisions of the Noise Bylaw by fill out the application. Applications should be submitted no later than eight weeks in advance of the requested exemption date. This time is required for Council reporting deadlines and to allow staff to process your application.

A 10-day public comment period as part of the application process is required to allow for public input on the request. The dates for the 10-day period will be determined between the applicant and City staff.

How to Apply

Sign up/log in to MyKingston to complete your application online and ensure we can fulfill your request effectively. Require an alternate format? You can Contact Us.

Apply Now

Upon receipt of a complete application, applicants will be charged an application fee following the Fees and Charges Bylaw.

Applicants are responsible for paying the cost of a public notice advertisement in the Kingston Whig-Standard and will be invoiced directly. City staff are responsible for coordinating the placement of the advertisement.

Minor Noise Exemption Requests

Applications for amplified noise exemptions would require the following:

• Complete application submitted at least 14 days ahead of the event;
• The name and address of the applicant(s);
• Point of contact for the event (if different);
• A description of the source of sound or vibration in respect of which exemption is being
• sought;
• The period of time for which the exemption is sought;
• The reasons why the exemption is being sought;
• The application fee of $100; and
• Posting on the City’s website for a 5-business day period, to elicit any public comment about the proposed noise exemption.

In considering the completed application for any amplified noise exemption, the Director will take into account the following:

• The Director shall consult with the affected District Councillor on an application for an exemption and the consultation shall include any terms and conditions that may be attached to an exemption;
• The prior event history, as well as previous By-Law interactions with the applicant(s) and the property at issue;
• The proximity of the sound to a Residential Area and the likelihood that the sound for which an exemption is requested may negatively affect persons in a Residential Area;
• Whether any negative impacts can be reduced with the use of mitigation measures including limiting the sound to certain days or times of the day; and
• Any comments received during the public consultation period.

Amplified Sound noise requests of an other-than-minor nature (i.e. multiple days, significant potential community effect, affecting public property, large number of participants, etc.) would continue to be brought to Council for approval with an 8-week timeframe, with a $350 exemption processing fee.

Nuisance Party Bylaw

The Nuisance Party Bylaw, is a local enforcement tool which gives Kingston Police and bylaw enforcement officers the ability to address the negative impacts on neighbourhoods of behaviours associated with large social gatherings.