A group of advocates in Toronto are urging residents to act and protect themselves from ongoing noise pollution, as complaints about disruptive, loud, late-night sounds continue to impact surrounding communities.
Toronto residents are sharing their frustrations online, with some claiming that despite making repeated calls to bylaw enforcement and their local councillors, nothing is being done to address concerns over excessive noise.
One resident shared their ongoing experience with neighbours hosting parties twice a month until 12:30 a.m. They reported hearing loud, live music, DJs, drum kits, pianos, cheering, and karaoke, and have documented and sent the recordings to their local councillor. Online, the user reached out for advice on what steps to take next.
“The city is falling short for noise bylaws, my walls are shaking, my patience is at its limit. Any ideas are welcome,” they wrote in a Reddit post.
No More Noise Toronto, a local advocacy group aimed at engaging citizens and changing policy through data, is raising awareness about the physical, emotional, and mental impacts of noise pollution on the health of the city’s residents.
“You’re not nuts if you’re disturbed by noise, because that’s the thing, many of us have suffered in silence,” Ingrid Buday, founder of No More Noise Toronto, told Now Toronto on Wednesday.
“Noise is first and foremost, a primary health issue. It is something that we have no defense from. So, we can plug our ears for decibels, that kind of thing, but there’s nothing that we can do to ignore vibration,” she explained.
She says vibration comes from low-frequency sound waves, citing a study conducted by the organization to measure vibrational impacts on the nearby homes. Shaking windows were observed among residences located near Rogers Stadium, making it nearly impossible for Torontonians to sleep.
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“I think that’s part of the problem with noise, is that we’ve got more people in a tighter space, and we’re building with concrete and glass, so that reflects the noise up to the highest level from street level,” she said.
Buday adds that frequent noise disturbances can take a toll on a person’s mental and physical health, citing the potential development of anxiety and anticipation, along with anger, frustration, rage, and learned helplessness when no action is taken to address these particular concerns.
But vibrations from sound are not the only concern. Buday says that one of the most significant and well-documented effects of noise is on the heart. Whether pleasant to the ear or not, excessive noise can trigger physical responses that may have long-term impacts on the body.
A potential solution? Buday points to noise camera technology, similar to those used in New York, which automatically issue tickets to those operating outside healthy noise limits, offering a modern response to a longstanding issue.
While no official standards for maximum noise levels in Canada, the World Health Organization says excessive noise can cause annoyance. Additionally, it can also increase the risk of ischemic heart disease (IDH) and hypertension, and negatively impact sleep quality, hearing, cause tinnitus, and contribute to cognitive impairment.
With the city’s continuous growth and density, some residents are reporting similar concerns, including increased noise from track work near the intersection of King and Dufferin Streets, condo developments near King St. W., and events held at STACKT Market.
The City of Toronto website explains that certain levels of noise are considered reasonable, as they reflect “life in a densely populated city.” The noise bylaw aims to balance the city’s “vibrancy” with the well-being of residents and visitors by setting sound level limits and time restrictions for the various types of noise.
And while noise complaints are prioritized to address more frequent and disruptive issues, the city may not investigate a singular or infrequent noise complaint to ensure recurring concerns are reviewed more quickly.
A spokesperson for the City of Toronto told Now Toronto on Wednesday that the city receives thousands of noise-related complaints yearly, with a total of 17,343 in 2024.
In addition, the City of Toronto says that, in certain cases, organizations or events may apply for noise exemption permits, which are typically used for cultural events, film productions, or construction work.
The City of Toronto encourages residents to report noise disruptions by contacting 311, and providing details such as the time, location, and nature of the noise to assist with the investigation. Depending on the complaint, bylaw enforcement officers may be dispatched to support the investigation, and if a violation is confirmed, the city may take action including education, warnings, orders to comply, charges or fines.
But how else can residents protect themselves and raise concerns? Buday says there are more steps Torontonians can take, including contacting local councillors.
“Even if they don’t respond, having noise pollution or noise in the subject line, their staff read it, they end up knowing that it becomes an issue, and that’s probably the most important thing.”
She adds that reaching out to No More Noise Toronto for support is another option, as the organization offers drop-in orientation sessions every second Saturday of the month. Taking steps toward self-care and stress management is another one of Buday’s suggestions which can also help residents cope with the ongoing impact of noise. She points towards investing in ear plugs, drapes, soft furnishing and overall, focussing on meditation.
And most importantly? Buday assures Torontonians affected by noise pollution should remember that they are not alone.
“There’s more people that are diagnosed with ADHD, with autism, that have had brain injuries, that are trying to recover from surgery, that you know, all of these things can make us more susceptible and sensitive to light and sound, and so if anybody’s feeling that way, they are not alone.”
To learn more about how the City of Toronto addresses noise, click here.
