Is Chainsaw Noise at 7:30 a.m. OK in Hamilton?

Is it a violation of the town's "quiet hours" for a tree crew fire up a chainsaw at 7:30 a.m. on a Thursday morning in Hamilton?

That was the question that Ryan Ropes had when he heard a chainsaw in action early Thursday morning.

In fact, his question started on Twitter when he wondered whether Hamilton has “quiet hours.”

In a way, yes, it does.

“Noise generated by vehicles, equipment or tools used in construction, maintenance or repair” is allowed in Hamilton between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., according to a copy of section 13 of the town bylaws provided to Patch by Hamilton police Lt. Scott Janes.

So, in terms of a chainsaw operated by a contractor, the quiet hours are 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.

The bylaw also says that it is “unlawful for any person or persons conducting a business activity, including pickups, deliveries and trash hauling related to a business activity” to crate “excessive, unnecessary, or unusually loud noise which either annoys, disturbs, injures, or endangers the reasonable quiet, comfort, repose, or the health and safety of others.”

The bylaw says nothing about the private, personal use of noise-making items such as lawnmowers or leafblowers on someone's own property.

The bylaw calls for a fine of at least $100 on the first violation and a fine of at least $200 for another violation within a year. The Hamilton Police Department is charged with enforcing the bylaw. It’s considered a separate violation for each half hour that the violation continues, according to the bylaw, and third and subsequent offenses carry a $300 fine each.