Surrey Noise Bylaw: Quiet Hours, Construction Hours, Barking Dogs and How to Complain

This guide covers the City of Surrey only. White Rock, Delta, Langley and other nearby cities have their own noise bylaws. We checked every rule, phone number and fine on surrey.ca and surreypolice.ca on September 25, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.

What Surrey's noise bylaw actually says

The Surrey Noise Control By-law, 1982, No. 7044 is still the City's main noise bylaw. It is short, and most of it is one general rule: no person may make, cause or allow noise in a public or private place that disturbs, or tends to disturb, the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of people in the neighbourhood.

The bylaw also covers these situations:

• Property owners and occupiers must not let their property be used in a way that sends disturbing noise to the neighbours.
• Music and speakers: no radio, stereo, instrument or sound system, indoors or out, may be played in a way that disturbs the neighbourhood.
• Animals and birds: no one may keep an animal or bird whose cries unduly disturb the neighbourhood.
• Public address systems used outdoors need a permit.
• Emergency work to protect life, health or property is allowed at any time, but the person doing the work must be able to show it really was an emergency.

The City's property use bylaws page says noise can include loud music, animal noises (including barking dogs), street vendors or alarms.

Are there quiet hours in Surrey?

Not as fixed times. Bylaw 7044 has no general "quiet after 10pm" rule. Disturbing noise is not allowed at any time, day or night. In a June 2026 notice, the City said noise must be kept at a respectful volume at all hours, "but particularly as evening approaches". It said music, loud conversations and parties that can be heard from nearby homes may lead to enforcement.

The City gives this rule of thumb: a normal conversation during the day is generally fine, but if the same volume can be heard by your neighbours at night, for example from backyard speakers or a party, it is likely too loud. For reference, the City lists normal conversation at about 60 decibels, a vacuum cleaner at 70 and a gas lawnmower at 85.

Surrey construction noise hours

The rule covers building, altering, repairing and demolishing buildings and structures, plus excavating or filling land, when it disturbs the neighbourhood. The City explains the Sunday rule this way: property owners can do construction on their own property on a Sunday, but they cannot hire any trades to do construction work on a Sunday.

If work truly has to happen outside these hours, a contractor or owner can apply for a Noise Extension Bylaw Permit. The City asks applicants to call 604-591-4370 to confirm the fee and the supporting documents needed. Surrey Police Service's noise policy notes that contractors working outside normal hours with a City permit must show a copy when an officer asks.

The City's construction hours sheet adds that it may also issue a stop work order.

Can I cut my grass or use power tools in Surrey?

Bylaw 7044 does not name lawn mowers, leaf blowers or power tools, and it sets no specific hours for them. The construction rules cover building, demolishing, excavating and filling land, which doesn't describe mowing a lawn, so mowing falls under the general rule against disturbing noise instead. What applies is the general rule: any noise that disturbs the neighbours is not allowed at any time.

In practice, a lawn mowed at a reasonable daytime hour rarely causes trouble. A gas mower (about 85 decibels, according to the City) running early in the morning or late in the evening is much more likely to draw a complaint. Building projects with power tools, like a deck or a fence, count as construction, so they must stay within 7am to 10pm. Hired trades cannot do that work on a Sunday.

Barking dogs and animal noise

Two bylaws cover noisy animals in Surrey:

• Noise Control Bylaw 7044 bans keeping any animal or bird whose cries unduly disturb the neighbourhood.
• Animal Responsibility Bylaw 19105, section 34, says no owner may keep an animal whose howling, barking or cries unduly disturb the people around it.

The City's Animals page lists "excessive and persistent noise from barking dogs" as something to report to the Bylaw Call Centre at 604-591-4370. A dog barking now and then is normal. Complaints are about barking that goes on and on or keeps happening.

How to make a noise complaint in Surrey

The City says you can report noise any time:

• Phone (preferred): Bylaw Complaint Line, 604-591-4370
• Online: the City's Report a Problem tool at my.surrey.ca
• Email: bylawcomplaint@surrey.ca

When you report, the City asks for the address or exact location of the noise, the time and type of noise, and whether it is ongoing or keeps happening. Complaints are prioritized by how serious they are, the time of day and whether officers are available.

What happens next: a bylaw officer inspects, then works with the property owner to bring the noise down to an acceptable level or stop it. The City keeps the complainant's information confidential unless the case goes to court. Its Report a Problem page says it does not accept anonymous requests, so you will need to give your contact details.

When to call police instead of bylaw

Surrey Police Service (SPS) officers can enforce Bylaw 7044 as well. SPS's noise complaint policy tells officers to use a "measured and incremental approach". They talk to the people making the noise, give a warning, and may issue a ticket if there is a history of complaints. For the most serious, persistent cases, officers may consider an arrest or Criminal Code charges such as mischief or causing a disturbance.

• Noisy party or gathering happening now, especially late at night: SPS non-emergency, 604-599-0502.
• Fighting, threats, weapons or anyone in danger: 911.
• Ongoing problems like a barking dog, a neighbour's regular loud music, or construction outside allowed hours: the Bylaw Complaint Line, 604-591-4370, or Report a Problem.

When police follow up, the SPS policy says they tell the person a complaint was received but do not give out the complainant's name or location.

Noise fines in Surrey

The City's June 2026 notice says fines may be issued depending on how serious the case is and its history, and that repeat violations can lead to higher penalties. Surrey's ticketing bylaw (No. 12508) sets these ticket amounts:

If a case goes to court instead of a ticket, Bylaw 7044 sets a fine of $100 to $2,000 for each offence, and each day a violation continues counts as a separate offence.

Farm bird scare cannons

The bylaw allows "noise scare devices" (propane cannons and similar) to protect berry crops on land zoned for farming. They may only run from 6:30am to noon and from 3pm to 8pm, or from dawn to dusk excluding noon to 3pm, whichever is shorter. Firing frequency, distance from homes and City registration are also limited. Complaints go to the same bylaw line, 604-591-4370.

Frequently Asked Questions

Official sources

• Surrey Noise Control By-law, 1982, No. 7044 (PDF) — City of Surrey
• Keep it down, Surrey (June 2026) — City of Surrey
• Property Use Bylaws — City of Surrey
• Noise Extension Bylaw Permit — City of Surrey
• Construction Hours (PDF) — City of Surrey
• Animals — City of Surrey
• Surrey Animal Responsibility Bylaw, 2017, No. 19105 (PDF) — City of Surrey
• Ticket Fines By-law No. 12508 (PDF) — City of Surrey
• Report a Problem or Submit a Request — City of Surrey
• Contact Us — Surrey Police Service
• Policy OP 4.37 Noise Complaints (PDF) — Surrey Police Service

General information only, not professional advice. Rules and prices change, so check the official sources above before you act. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.