Monday–Saturday
Daytime: 7 a.m.–10 p.m. All other hours are nighttime.
Sources reviewed: October 3, 2026
Residential noise and neighbour relations in Calgary
Plan renovations, yard work and day-to-day property management around residential noise hours, equipment restrictions and the appropriate reporting channels.
Daytime hours do not give permission to disturb neighbours. The City does not use decibel readings to assess loud-party complaints, and a phone measurement does not replace an enforcement assessment. Visit the official resource ↗
Residential noise hours
Sundays and statutory holidays
Daytime: 9 a.m.–10 p.m. All other hours are nighttime.
Equipment at night
Restrictions include hand lawn mowers, motorized garden tools and power tools used outside buildings. Check separate provisions for special activities and projects.
Step by step
Agree on work hours before renovations begin
Set a schedule with your contractor and check condominium bylaws and management requirements. For work outside permitted hours, confirm whether an applicable noise exemption has been approved. A construction permit is not automatically a noise exemption.
Visit the official resource ↗Consider equipment and specific exceptions
Watch for persistent sound and vibration from air conditioners, ventilation and other equipment. The City provides a 48-hour exception for motorized snow clearing after snowfall, rain or freezing rain. Outdoor speakers and Stampede activities have specific provisions; exceptions should not be treated as blanket permission to disturb others.
Visit the official resource ↗Discuss the issue when it is safe to do so
Explain when the noise occurs, how long it lasts and how it affects you, and seek a practical adjustment. Give tenants clear quiet-hour and contact information. When buying, visit the surrounding area at different times of day.
Document ongoing problems and use the right channel
Record dates, times, locations and a concise description. Contact Calgary 311 for ordinary residential noise concerns, or 403-268-2489 from outside the city. For a loud party requiring immediate intervention, call the police non-emergency line at 403-266-1234; call 911 for an emergency. 311 requires your identity and contact details and does not accept anonymous complaints.
Visit the official resource ↗Published residential sound limits
| Sound type and measurement period | Daytime / nighttime limit |
|---|---|
| Continuous · 1 hour | 65 dBA / 50 dBA |
| Non-continuous · 15 minutes | 85 dBA / 75 dBA |
Sources
This guide concerns residential noise within Calgary. Animal noise, moving vehicles and major events have separate rules; neighbouring municipalities have their own bylaws. Enforcement authorities determine violations, measurement requirements and applicable exemptions under the current bylaw.