Town reduces permitted operating hours for construction equipment on Sundays

April 7, 2022 · 0 Comments

Equipment only allowed to operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., statutory holidays also part of change

By Zachary Roman

The use of construction equipment on Sundays and statutory holidays is okay, but it should have limits, says Caledon Council.

According to a report on Council’s March 22 general committee meeting, the Town has received complaints from residents regarding noise from construction equipment.

“Residents have brought forward concerns regarding the use of construction equipment on Sundays, disturbing the peace and enjoyment of their properties,” reads a motion brought forward from Councillor Lynn Kiernan at the meeting.

“It is reasonable to restrict the use of construction equipment at certain times to support the peace and enjoyment of the community.”

Due to these factors, it was recommended that Council amend the Town’s noise bylaw to restrict the operation of any equipment in connection with construction on Sundays and statutory holidays, between the hours of 8 p.m. one day and 8 a.m. the next.

The motion recommended to council said the proposed change was not a major change to the Town’s noise bylaw and therefore did not require a public open house about it.

The motion was passed on consent at the March 22 committee meeting, recommended for adoption at Council’s March 29 meeting, and adopted at that time.

In an April 1 interview with the Citizen, Kiernan explained she’d had multiple people call her complaining of heavy machinery being operated early in the morning on Sundays.

That led her to look into the Town’s noise bylaw, which she realized hadn’t been updated in a long time. Before the change enacted at the March 29 Council meeting, construction equipment was allowed to operate from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day of the week.

Kiernan acknowledged Canada’s short construction season and said a compromise needs to be found that works for everybody. She said there does need to be a balance when it comes to noise on weekend mornings; that peace and quiet on a Sunday at 6 a.m. is not unreasonable to ask for.

“I’d like to think that most people would have some kind of respect and not start up your massive bulldozer at 6 a.m., but apparently not,” said Kiernan.