Canada/The Plateau-Mont-Royal will have a new noise bylaw in January 2025

The elected representatives of the Plateau-Mont-Royal will table a new version of the noise by-law in January 2025. In the meantime, despite the concerns of many citizens, on Monday evening they ratified a regulatory amendment exempting bars, restaurants and concert halls from certain constraints.

With this amendment adopted Monday by Borough Council, Mayor Luc Rabouin wishes to prevent new establishments from being forced into silence, following the recent Court of Appeal ruling that forced the temporary closure of the La Tulipe concert hall.

Bars, craft breweries, recreational gaming establishments, cultural centres, restaurants, dance halls, reception halls and concert halls are now authorized to emit audible noise outdoors. This noise may come from sound equipment, musical instruments or users.

It's a temporary measure, while we review the whole [noise bylaw].

A quote from Luc Rabouin, mayor of the borough of Plateau-Mont-Royal

In the short term, the mayor wishes to reassure establishment owners. The borough wishes to prevent a cultural hecatomb after the closure of several establishments in recent years, due to citizen complaints.

In the long term, noise regulations will be reviewed. Luc Rabouin feels that they are not adapted to this vibrant neighborhood, renowned for its lively atmosphere, especially in view of the fact that the City of Montreal will soon be proposing a new nightlife policy.

In addition, three Plateau-Mont-Royal venues are currently participating in a pilot project launched last February. Based on the results of this project, the borough will propose a new version of its noise by-law. Its application could vary by street, by establishment, by type of establishment. It could be different for different sectors," said Mr. Rabouin on Monday.

That's what we want to discuss, always with the aim of combining quality of life issues for residents and remaining Le Plateau-Mont-Royal.

A quote from Luc Rabouin, Mayor of the borough of Plateau-Mont-Royal

To allay residents' fears, the mayor of Plateau-Mont-Royal reiterated that, despite the new exemption adopted on Monday, establishments will have to comply with the other provisions of the by-law, such as articleglement, such as article 8, which determines the number of acceptable decibels, and article 15, which allows city authorities to control excessive noise pollution.

Currently, according to the ordinance relating to article 8, the number of acceptable decibels is determined according to location and time of day.

The Plateau-Mont-Royal borough specifies that only professionals can assess noise intensity. Cell phone applications, which can be used by citizens, are therefore excluded from these assessments.

Source: ici.radio-canada.ca/