Heat pump noise limits by municipality, Greater Victoria (2026)
Decibel limits, night hours, whether the bylaw names heat pumps, tonal penalties and where the reading is taken, for all 13 municipalities, quoted from each municipality's bylaw. Context and what it means for a decision: read the explanation.
| municipality | bylaw | day db | night db | night hours | heat pump named | tonal penalty db | measured at | placement rule | electrical permit issuer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Victoria | Noise Bylaw No. 03-012 | 55 | 45 | 10 p.m.–7 a.m. | yes | 5 | point of reception within the recipient's property line (Quiet District limits) | no heat-pump-specific rule found | City of Victoria |
| District of Saanich | Noise Suppression Bylaw, 1993, No. 7059, s.7 'Heat pumps and water pumps' | 50 | 45 | 10 p.m.–7 a.m. | yes | — | point of reception in a Quiet Zone | no heat-pump-specific rule found | Technical Safety BC |
| District of Oak Bay | Anti-Noise Bylaw No. 3210 (heat pump clause per Bylaw 4902) | 50 | 45 | 10 p.m.–7 a.m. | yes | — | any property line | Per the District's 2025 guide: allowed in front, side and rear yards including within setbacks if at least 1.5 m from the property line; front-yard units need screening. | Technical Safety BC |
| Township of Esquimalt | Maintenance of Property and Nuisance Regulation Bylaw, 2014, No. 2826 | — | — | 10 p.m.–7 a.m. Mon–Fri; 10 p.m.–9 a.m. weekends/holidays | no | — | qualitative: noise 'which can be easily heard by a person not on the same land or building and which disturbs' | The former '6 metres from any property line' heat pump rule was removed by Bylaw 2861 (2015); no zoning siting rule now. | Technical Safety BC |
| Town of View Royal | Noise Control Bylaw, 2003, No. 523 | — | — | — | no | — | qualitative | Zoning Bylaw No. 900 s.4.6.4: residential heat pumps are not permitted within the front, side or flanking yard and must be at least 3 m from any side or flanking lot line; may project up to 1.5 m into the required rear yard setback. | Technical Safety BC |
| City of Colwood | Noise Control Bylaw No. 1594, 2016 | — | — | — | no | — | qualitative | no heat-pump-specific rule found | Technical Safety BC |
| City of Langford | Noise Regulation Bylaw No. 2056 | — | — | — | yes | — | qualitative | Zoning Bylaw 300 defines a heat pump as part of a 'structure'; no express projection allowance into setbacks. | Technical Safety BC |
| Town of Sidney | Bylaw No. 1689 (noise) | 55 | 45 | 10 p.m.–7 a.m. | yes | — | property line (acoustic consultant report may be required) | Zoning Bylaw No. 2275 s.5.1.12: not in a front yard or exterior side yard; at least 1 m from any lot line; screened with a year-round opaque visual barrier. | Technical Safety BC |
| District of Central Saanich | Noise Suppression Bylaw No. 933, s.5(b) | 45 | 45 | — | yes | — | a point of reception in a residential area, outside the property line | Zoning Bylaw No. 2270 (2026) s.4.6: not in a front yard; acoustic screening when sited 3 m or less from a side or rear property line. | Technical Safety BC |
| District of North Saanich | Noise Bylaw No. 1383 (2015), s.11 | 45 | 45 | — | yes | — | a point of reception in a residential area | no heat-pump-specific rule found | Technical Safety BC |
| District of Sooke | Noise Control Bylaw No. 485 (2011) | — | — | — | no | — | qualitative | Zoning Bylaw No. 600: heating or ventilating equipment may project up to 0.6 m into a yard; no heat pump clause. | Technical Safety BC |
| District of Metchosin | Noise Bylaw, 1995, No. 260 | — | — | — | no | — | qualitative | no heat-pump-specific rule found | Technical Safety BC |
| District of Highlands | Bylaw No. 961 (CRD Noise Suppression Bylaw, 1981, adopted) | — | — | — | no | — | qualitative | no heat-pump-specific rule found | Technical Safety BC |
Sources
- City of Victoria — electrical permits; Noise Bylaw No. 03-012 · City of Victoria · accessed 2026-09-18
- District of Saanich — Noise Suppression Bylaw No. 7059; heat pump financing · District of Saanich · accessed 2026-09-18
- Saanich heat pump financing program · District of Saanich · accessed 2026-09-18
- District of Oak Bay — Anti-Noise Bylaw No. 3210; heat pump guide · District of Oak Bay · accessed 2026-09-18
- Township of Esquimalt — building and zoning; Bylaw No. 2826 · Township of Esquimalt · accessed 2026-09-18
- Town of View Royal — building permits; Zoning Bylaw No. 900 · Town of View Royal · accessed 2026-09-18
- City of Colwood — building permits; Noise Control Bylaw No. 1594 · City of Colwood · accessed 2026-09-18
- City of Langford — building permits; Noise Regulation Bylaw No. 2056; Zoning Bylaw 300 · City of Langford · accessed 2026-09-18
- Town of Sidney — Heat Pump Permitting Guide (2025); Noise Bylaw No. 1689; Zoning Bylaw No. 2275 · Town of Sidney · accessed 2026-09-18
- District of Central Saanich — Noise Suppression Bylaw No. 933; Zoning Bylaw No. 2270; heat pump financing · District of Central Saanich · accessed 2026-09-18
- District of North Saanich — Noise Bylaw No. 1383 · District of North Saanich · accessed 2026-09-18
- District of Sooke — building and renovating; Noise Control Bylaw No. 485 · District of Sooke · accessed 2026-09-18
- District of Metchosin — building permits; Noise Bylaw No. 260 · District of Metchosin · accessed 2026-09-18
- District of Highlands — building permits; Noise Suppression Bylaw No. 961 · District of Highlands · accessed 2026-09-18