Vehicles and dogs are the most likely nuisances to disturb Canadians at home.
Vancouver, BC [September 17, 2026] – While the proportion of Canadians who have been disturbed by specific nuisances at home is lower than in 2025, there are some significant differences between Eastern and Western provinces, a new Research Co. poll has found.
In the online survey of a representative national sample, 56% of Canadians think their city or town is noisier now than last year, down seven points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in June 2025.
“Compared to 2025, fewer Canadians believe their municipality has become noisier,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The reductions are more pronounced in the East than in the West.”
More than two thirds of British Columbians (65%, -5) and Albertans (61%, -3) report living in a noisier city or town. The proportions are lower in Ontario (56%, -11), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (55%, -6), Atlantic Canada (50%, -11) and Quebec (47%, -9).
Fewer than two-in-five Canadians say their street (39%, -7) or their home (33%, -2) have become noisier since 2025.
Over the past year, more than three-in-ten Canadians were bothered at home by unnecessary noise from vehicles (such as motorcycles and cars revving up) (34%, -5) or dogs barking (32%, -3).
At least one-in-five Canadians were bothered by seven other nuisances while at home: construction-related noises (such as roofing, land clearing and heavy machinery) (26%, -7), a car alarm (25%, -9), loud people outside their home (24%, -4), yelling or screaming at a nearby home (21%, -3), power tools (such as electric saws and sanders) (20%, -4), drivers honking the horn excessively (also 20%, -2) or loud music playing inside a vehicle (also 20%, -4).
Fewer Canadians report being exposed to other noises at home, such as fireworks (19%, -1), yard work (such as lawnmowers and leaf blowers) (also 19%, -7), loud music at a nearby home (18%, -3), a loud gathering or party at a nearby home (16%, -5), a home alarm (11%, -1) or cats meowing (6%, -2).
Practically two-in-five British Columbians (39%) were bothered by construction-related noises at home in the past year. No other region reaches 30% on this indicator.
Unnecessary noise from vehicles outside their home affected 40% of Albertans, 39% of British Columbians and 39% of Ontarians in the past year.
Dogs barking is the main nuisance reported by residents of Atlantic Canada (35%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (29%).
Just under one-in-five Canadians (18%, +1) wore earplugs to mitigate noise while inside their homes in the past year. Fewer Canadians acquired hardware, such as noise cancelling headphones or earphones (13%, +2), reported noise concerns to the police (9%, +1) or moved away from their previous home because of noise (7%, +1).
Methodology: Results are based on an online survey conducted from August 31 to September 2, 2026, among 1,002 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in Canada. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 3.1 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.
Find our data tables here and download the press release here.
For more information on this poll, please contact:
Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.
778.929.0490
[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca