Neighbour Relations Tips

The responsibility for a good neighbourhood belongs to everyone

When you're living in a residential neighbourhood, it's a good idea to build positive relationships with the members of your community. Some of the ways you can support these relationships include:

• Get to know the people who live nearby. Introduce yourself to your neighbours and listen to their concerns. If they are reasonable, do your best to address them.
• Put your garbage and recycling outside for collection at the appropriate time.
• Shovel the snow on your sidewalk promptly or even offer to do so for any nearby senior citizens.

Planning a party?

• Let your neighbours know if you are planning a party.
• You are responsible for your guests, so make efforts to control their behaviour.
• Follow noise bylaws for your municipality. In Halifax, quiet hours are from 9:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. during the week, but "No person shall engage in any activity that unreasonably disturbs or tends to disturb the peace and tranquility of a neighbourhood." 
• Keep in mind that other members of the community may be on very different schedules!

The most frequent concerns are:

• Unnecessary noise that disturbs the peacefulness of the street, such as playing music so loud it can be heard outside
• Consuming alcoholic beverages on the street
• Late night singing, chanting, yelling, car door slamming or horn blowing
• Parking inappropriately and blocking access to properties
• Damaging lawns, gardens, lawn furniture, cars or other belongings of neighbours
• Smoking and leaving cigarette butts on neighbour's property
• Littering the streets, sidewalks and lawns