On April 7, 2020, the Province passed regulations that temporarily suspend construction related noise by-laws across Ontario. O.Reg. 130/20 and O.Reg. 131/20 bar municipalities from prohibiting and regulating noise made in connection with:
- Construction projects and services in a municipality associated with the healthcare sector, including new facilities, expansions, renovations and conversion of spaces that could be repurposed for health care space, at any time of the day or night.
- Any other construction activity in a municipality between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.
The regulations permit construction noise between 6:00 am and 10:00 pm and are in force effective immediately for a period of 18 months.
The Minister’s new release announcing the above noted that:
This will allow for expedited construction on key facilities, such as new hospital builds, expansions, temporary COVID-19 response units or structures, and COVID-19 assessment centres. Extending hours for essential construction will also give worksite managers more flexibility to stagger shifts, limit the number of people in one place, and take reasonable precautions to keep workers safe and healthy under the recent guidelines issued by Ontario’s Chief Prevention Officer for construction sites.
Ontario is also making essential workplaces across the province safer during the COVID-19 pandemic by:
- Redeploying more than 30 employment standards officers to help businesses understand and comply with health and safety requirements;
- Working with health and safety associations to deploy up to 30 specialists to support employers and workers in the field;
- Issuing health and safety guidance notes to support specific sectors;
- Doubling the capacity of Ontario’s Health and Safety Call Centre from 25 to 50 phonelines;
- Providing job-protected leave under the Employment Standards Act for workers who need to self-isolate or care for a loved one because of COVID-19;
- Issuing a call to recently-retired inspectors who may be able and willing to return to their positions;
- Providing compliance assistance and enforcing the emergency orders issued under the Emergency Measures and Civil Protection Act.
The team at Davies Howe will continue to monitor the rapidly evolving situation as it relates to land use planning and development. We stand ready to answer any questions you may have about how COVID-19 affects the land development industry.
