We fully recognize that a vibrant patio season and initiatives like CaféTO play an important role in supporting our local economy and building a lively urban culture.

However, to maintain a truly livable city, we must ensure that commercial activities do not negatively impact the residents of the communities they operate in. Amplified music on patios can easily invade backyards and if loud enough their homes. Heavy bass notes can vibrate areas close by providing an additional irritant, causing physiological stress. We need to balance a thriving night economy with established good practices of being good neighbours.

The city has implemented specific, objective thresholds that all venues must follow:

• The legal limit for amplified sound at an outdoor point of reception in a living area is 55 dBA or 70 dBC during daytime operations.

• Between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., these limits drop to a strict 50 dBA or 65 dBC to protect the community’s critical sleep cycles.

If a local patio is compromising your sleep, we encourage you to make a report by creating a 311 service request so the city can gather the necessary compliance data to ensure a balanced neighborhood for everyone.