Does Regina have a noise bylaw?
Yes, there is a noise bylaw.
It is against the Noise Abatement Bylaw #6980 to create any noise that is a disturbance to others between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. with the exception of:
1. pre-authorized events or;
2. noise caused by:
* emergency vehicles * train whistles * snow removal equipment * church bells
To file a complaint, call Bylaw Enforcement at (306)777-7000 (daytime during office hours) or the Regina Police Service at (306)777-6500 (after hours).
Legal Action/Fines
Up to $2000/individual or $5,000/corporation or up to 30 days in jail. Excessive howling or barking dogs (anytime of day) – summary offence ticket of $50 issued by Regina Police Service)
What can I do about Noisy Parties?
Phone the Regina Police Service Communications Centre at 777-6500. Give the address of the residence from which the noise is coming. You will also be asked for your phone number so the Communications Officer can call you back to confirm information. You’ll be asked a number of questions to establish the seriousness of the situation.
Based on that information, the Communications Centre will try to make phone contact at the address to ask the person in charge to quiet the party. If the person in charge at that address is unwilling or unable to comply, the Communications Office will request that police attend. Please be patient; all calls are handled on a priority basis and there may be other serious, or even life-threatening situations in progress that must be dealt with first. Remember, too, that responding to a noisy party usually takes several police officers. It takes time to reassign and send the necessary resources. Situations change, so please call the Communications Centre again if there’s been a change for the better or worse. When police attend, they will conduct an investigation and charges may result, dependent on the outcome of the investigation. You may be asked to give police a statement. This is especially important if the noise has abated by the time police arrive, but the problem is a chronic one.
Many of our calls for service during late spring and summer deal with gatherings or house parties that have, for one reason or another, escalated out of control. The types of infractions that may result from an unmanageable gathering may include loud, unnecessary noise, mischief, property damage, abuse of alcohol, use of drugs, assaults and more.
What you can do to help prevent unwanted guests?
Experience shows it’s not usually the invited guests at a gathering who cause problems. Some people or groups make a practice of showing up uninvited at gatherings and sometimes trouble arrives with those uninvited persons. Other times it’s a mix of alcohol, exuberance and relative anonymity that causes problems. Here are some points to consider that may help you protect your home and family.
1. If you are going out of town for the weekend and have young people staying at home, do you know if there’s a party planned? If you don’t know…please ask. 2. If there is going to be a party, have steps been taken to limit the circulation of that information so as to prevent the arrival of unwanted guests? 3. Do you have a plan for what will be done if unwanted guests show up in numbers at a party? 4. Is there a designated responsible adult (relative or neighbour) available to supervise activities at your home while you are away?
The seasonal upward shift in so-called noisy parties isn’t matched by a downward trend in other types of police calls, so summer is a very busy time for police. Preventing an unmanageable house party or noisy gathering is worth the attention and effort required.