Respect for your neighbours.
That should be in the purchase agreement for any home sale.
In recent editions, the News Review has fielded letters about noise regulations (in North Saanich specifically) when it comes to enjoyment of one’s backyard. Some folks thing they’re too draconian and prevent the enjoyment of one’s personal space. Others like the rules, and like peace and quiet when they want it.
Neither side in this debate is necessarily wrong — and the existence of a seemingly restrictive bylaw only means there may have been trouble in the past between neighbours who did not respect each other.
Most bylaws like these are not enforced until someone makes a complaint.
So, if you never speak to your neighbours, never ask them to be helpful if there’s an issue with noise (or anything else for that matter), then you’re more likely to run right to the municipality and complain.
Your neighbour’s reaction? The first they’ve heard about it. Might not have even realized there was a problem. Then, the resentment sets in.
See where there might have been a better solution to this problem?
A simple, respectful conversation should be where neighbours start — not barking at each other over the fence.
A neighbourhood should be a place where diverse families live, where there’s the sounds of children, lawn mowers perhaps and even conversation that might rise and fall in volume. And then, when its early or late, everybody tries to be considerate of each other. After all, who wants to hear that lawn mower crank up at 6 a.m. — or 11 p.m.?
Start with respect and you may find your neighbourhood is lot more peaceful.