Noise Bylaw

[projekktor id=’24662′]

Nothing is better than sitting outside on a patio and enjoying some live music while sipping on a beverage but in Hamilton you won’t hear or see live music on a licensed patio, unless the business has applied for an exception to the rules. It’s a bylaw that has been in place since 1986, and some councillors now want it updated.

Councillor Jason Farr says Hamilton is one of the most restrictive cities in the province when it comes to entertainment on a licensed patio. He does not support, “a dance club outdoors pumpin up the jam until all hours” but he wants the public to weigh in on whether it should be easier for establishments to amplify sound outside.

Councillor Chad Collins says the current bylaw works. Bars in his ward, like Barangas on the beach, have applied for variances to provide live music. Noise bylaws limit the amount of noise and the time it has to shut off. He says the planning committee is only entertaining a change to please the waterfront patio Sarcoa, which has sued the city for $15 million because it can’t get a variance to amplify music. there was too much opposition from local residents. Now, Collins says, councillors are talking about a city-wide bylaw change.

Hamilton is not alone, Burlington and St. Catharines have similar bans on outdoor amplification but the planning committee did agree today that they would hold public consultations into the issue in October.