Montreal Announces $2.5 Million for Venue Soundproofing Amidst Noise Complaint Controversies

Montreal is taking new steps to address frequent noise complaints for music venues.

As part of a new nightlife policy announced on October 30, the city has earmarked $2.5 million for soundproofing measures. That soundproofing fund will be specifically available to small venues — under 3,000 capacity — like the Diving Bell Social Club, which last year shut down due to noise complaints.

The city has also announced $3 million in policy initiatives aimed at fostering nightlife culture. Those include the creation of nightlife hubs, the softening of noise complaint laws, and more flexible rules to allow some venues to sell liquor later into the night (bars currently have to cease alcohol sales by 3 a.m.).

The new funding for soundproofing and promised noise by-law changes follow public outcry last month over the closure of La Tulipe, a longstanding night club forced to cease operations by a residential developer next door who filed repeated noise complaints.

The nightlife policy was first introduced this past winter, before a public consultation process. To ensure that stakeholders continue to be involved in the policy's implementation, the city has also announced a nightlife roundtable, helmed by Jenny Thibault, artistic director of the popular downtown venue SAT.

"I'm very proud of this policy, which adds to the qualities that place Montreal among the great international metropolises," says Mayor Valérie Plante.

Others are less sure.

"I was expecting something to help us to protect us as a venue and I don't feel that there's been something to do about it," Jake Warren, who operates bar and concert hall Verre Bouteille, told CTV. Soundproofing is a long process that doesn't guarantee protection from neighbours.

"The most pressing issue is noise complaints, and they've done nothing about it," said writer Brendan Kelly on X. "So what happened to La Tulipe can happen again. Some developer can build a condo tower right next to an existing venue and then noise-complain the venue out of business."

After the news of La Tulipe's shutdown, the city quickly amended noise regulations in the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough. The full policy does specify that the city will assist boroughs in further amending noise regulations and establishing decibel limits, but specifics are not clear.

The policy has been submitted to the city's municipal council for approval on November 18 and is set to come into effect next May.