Experiencing noise in Peterborough?

The pickleball trend could be hitting your neighbourhood and you may not even know until it’s too late! Apparently there is no permitting required by the City of Peterborough for installing a pickleball court in your yard, and they are popping up around the city in what used to be quiet residential neighbourhoods.

Proponents of the game will tout all of the physical and mental benefits of play, and they are not wrong. However, for those not wishing to participate, exposure to the noise surrounding the game is detrimental to both mental and physical health. The intent of this article is not to educate you about those effects, but rather to warn you. To date, it has been evident that once a court appears in a backyard in your neighbourhood there is nothing you can do to stop it.

Most focus is on the sound of the plastic, non-recyclable ball on the hard paddle. While this is extremely annoying, also be prepared for the yelling and cheering that accompanies every shot. This is an extremely noisy game.

Pickleball play has been reported starting in residential backyards in the City of Peterborough as early as 7:30 a.m. and continuing for several hours. It also extends into evening hours and who knows what will happen if the homeowner installs backyard lighting which would allow them to play even later. Currently there is NO RECOURSE for the surrounding neighbours. 

On one particular occasion, a resident filed a complaint regarding pickleball noise from their neighbours backyard court through the City of Peterborough online complaint portal. Following this complaint, a representative from the Municipal Law Enforcement and Security Division stated that pickleball does not “fall within the scope of the noise bylaw” and that it is “similar to someone playing ball hockey or the noise from children playing in a pool”.

No joke. They said that. Be warned.