CHAT News File Photo

By Chris Brown

Adjusting to new routines

‘New noise’ at heart of complaints, says bylaw officer

May 6, 2020 | 2:20 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – In the first four days of May MHPS officers paid a visit to deal with 27 noise complaints in the city.

Heather Trail, municipal enforcement supervisor, said the calls are a result of more people being at home at times of the day they normally wouldn’t be with people spending more time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s new noise and it’s new people at home at irregular times,” she said. “It’s really just an adjustment of people’s routines have changed and the reaction to that.

She was clear that the complaints didn’t involve mass gatherings.

“The noise has been backyard family get-togethers, we’ve had some louder stereos, noise issues in some of the condos and really it’s just more people at home in the residential areas than we normally have and people are just picking up on the changes and reporting.”

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For the purpose of determining reasonable noise, daytime is considered from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on the weekends or holidays. The remaining hours are considered nighttime.

The acceptable level of noise is 65 decibels in the daytime and 50 at night. An objective approach can be used by noise level measurements if required.

As a general rule, the City of Medicine Hat takes a subjective approach to noise as noise at any time that disturbs the peace of another, can be an offence. Factors that will come into consideration include the time and day of week, nature and use of the surrounding area and sound level if measured

Questions or concerns can be directed to the MHPS non-emergency line at 403-529-8481.