Why is there aircraft noise around Vancouver International?

Vancouver International Airport (YVR/CYVR) is Canada's second-busiest airport, handling around 26 million passengers per year on three runways (two parallel + one cross). The airport sits on Sea Island in the City of Richmond, 10 km south of downtown Vancouver across the south arm of the Fraser River. Most arrivals approach from over the Strait of Georgia (to the west), and most departures climb out either over water or via specific noise-abatement procedures. The corridor still affects Richmond, Steveston, Marpole, and Kerrisdale. Downtown Vancouver and the North Shore sit clear.

Which Vancouver neighborhoods are quietest for aircraft noise?

Downtown Vancouver (West End, Coal Harbour, Yaletown, Gastown, Downtown Eastside), the North Shore (North Vancouver, West Vancouver), East Vancouver (Commercial Drive, Mount Pleasant, Strathcona), Burnaby, and most areas north of False Creek sit clear of the corridor and catch only altitude overflight. The affected areas are concentrated south of the Fraser: Richmond (most of it), Steveston, parts of Delta, and the south Vancouver neighborhoods Marpole and Kerrisdale.

Is Richmond loud from planes?

Yes — Richmond is the most consistently affected city in the Vancouver metro area. The City of Richmond essentially surrounds YVR on three sides, with the airport on its northern edge. Different parts of Richmond catch different corridors — central Richmond is most affected by approaches; Steveston catches departure climb-out; the western parts catch both. Despite this, Richmond is a popular expat destination (particularly for Chinese-Canadian community and other newcomers) because of housing affordability vs. downtown Vancouver and excellent SkyTrain Canada Line access. Drop a pin on the map above to see your specific street.

Is downtown Vancouver loud from planes?

Mostly no — downtown Vancouver sits ~10 km north of YVR and catches only altitude overflight at moderate heights (~3000-5000 ft). The dense waterfront and high-rise residential neighborhoods (West End, Coal Harbour, Yaletown) get less aircraft noise than they get from seaplane operations at Coal Harbour and helicopter operations from various downtown helipads. For most downtown apartment dwellers, aircraft noise from YVR is not a significant factor.

How does Vancouver YVR compare to Seattle SEA for noise?

Vancouver YVR sits closer to its city center (10 km vs. SEA's 21 km) but Vancouver's geography (the Fraser River, Sea Island location, mountains) confines the noise corridor more than Seattle's. SEA's noise affects extensive northern Seattle suburbs (Burien, SeaTac, Des Moines); YVR's noise mostly affects Richmond. Both airports operate 24/7. For Pacific Northwest relocators choosing between the two, Vancouver's downtown is more aircraft-noise-friendly; Seattle has more suburb-level impact.

How do I report aircraft noise at YVR?

Submit complaints to YVR's Noise & Air Quality Department via yvr.ca/en/community/noise. The Vancouver Airport Authority operates a 24-hour noise complaint hotline. The City of Richmond Department of Engineering also tracks noise complaints from the affected areas. NavCanada handles air traffic complaints. The YVR/CAC (Community Aviation Council) reviews aggregated complaints quarterly.

Does coverage on this map include all aircraft?

Yes — commercial Canadian and international fleets at YVR have near-100% ADS-B coverage. The heatmap and density layers reflect actual traffic accurately. Seaplane operations from Coal Harbour and the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre have lower ADS-B coverage but operate from a different airport (YHC) and don't affect YVR's corridors.

Vancouver Flight Path Noise Map – Vancouver International Airport (YVR)

Name: Aircraft noise observations near Vancouver International Airport
Creator: Flight Path Noise
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Aircraft noise around Vancouver in October 2026

Loudest neighborhoods near Vancouver: Richmond (central), Steveston, Marpole. Quietest: West End, Coal Harbour, Yaletown, Burnaby, New Westminster. Busiest around 3 PM local time averaging 922 flights/day. Source: Flight Path Noise monitoring data, 30 days to 2026-10-17.

Flights by hour · last 30 days

12a6a12p6p

Average daily traffic

922

flights / day · 27,660 total

Busiest hour

3 PM

peak 95 dB

Loudest hour

3 PM

peak 95 dB

Loudest residential area

Richmond (central)

63 dB avg · ~663 flights/day · Office noise

City of Richmond; under southern approach and departure corridors on multiple runway directions

Does Vancouver Airport have a curfew?

No — Vancouver has no formal curfew.

YVR does not have a strict curfew but has voluntary noise-abatement procedures during 10 PM – 7 AM. Operations continue overnight, particularly cargo and transpacific arrivals. The lack of a hard curfew reflects YVR’s role as a major Pacific gateway. Noise abatement at YVR is mostly procedural — preferring certain runways and approaches that minimize residential overflight when wind permits.

Vancouver International Airport (YVR/CYVR) is Canada’s second- busiest airport — 26 million passengers per year on three runways, sitting 10 km south of downtown Vancouver on Sea Island in the Fraser River delta. Most operations route over water (the Strait of Georgia) thanks to YVR’s island geography and specific noise-abatement procedures. The corridor still affects the City of Richmond (essentially surrounding the airport), Steveston, and South Vancouver neighborhoods Marpole and Kerrisdale. Downtown Vancouver and the North Shore sit clear.

Which neighborhoods are quietest — and which aren’t

YVR has three runways: 08L/26R, 08R/26L (parallel east- west), and 13/31 (cross runway). The dominant configuration uses 08/26 with both arrivals from the east and departures to the west over the Strait, keeping most noise off populated areas where possible.

Area	Aircraft noise	Why
Richmond (central)	✈︎✈︎✈︎	Surrounds airport on three sides
Steveston	✈︎✈︎✈︎	Climb-out corridor overhead
Marpole	✈︎✈︎✈︎	South Vancouver under approach
Kerrisdale	✈︎✈︎	West Side at moderate altitude
Dunbar-Southlands	✈︎✈︎	Lateral approach
Kitsilano	✈︎✈︎	Beach district, lateral
West End	✈︎	Downtown residential; altitude
Coal Harbour	✈︎	Modern harbour; off corridor
Yaletown	✈︎	Trendy district; clear
Burnaby	✈︎	East metro; minimal
New Westminster	✈︎	Outside footprint
North Vancouver	✈︎	Across inlet; off corridor

The practical move at Vancouver for aircraft noise is north of False Creek or east of Boundary Road — downtown, the North Shore, East Van, Burnaby, and the eastern metro all sit clear of the corridor. The most affected areas are concentrated south of the Fraser: Richmond, Steveston, parts of Delta, and the south Vancouver West Side neighborhoods.

Flight patterns and runway use

YVR operates two parallel runways (08L/26R and 08R/26L) plus the cross runway 13/31 for cross-winds. With prevailing westerly winds (most of the year), arrivals come from the east (over the Fraser Valley) and depart to the west over the Strait. With easterly winds, the operation reverses — putting the brunt on Richmond/Steveston.

The route-density layer on the map above shows the predominantly east-west corridor pattern with over-water extensions to the west and the east arrivals stretching back over the Fraser Valley.

When is it quietest?

YVR’s 24-hour operations with noise-abatement preferences:

Morning departure bank (6 AM – 9 AM): peak. Trans-Pacific to Asia + domestic across Canada.
Midday (10 AM – 3 PM): moderate, sustained.
Evening arrival bank (4 PM – 9 PM): peak. North American
intercontinental arrivals.
Late evening (9 PM – midnight): tapers; Asian late arrivals.
Overnight (midnight – 6 AM): noise-abatement preferred- runway operations; cargo and trans-Pacific red-eyes.

For your specific address, drop a pin on the map above.

How to check noise at your specific address

Search your address or postcode in the bar at the bottom.
Drop a pin.
Read the noise report.

For Richmond addresses, check carefully — exposure varies significantly by area within the city. For downtown Vancouver or the North Shore, expect flat green profiles.

Frequently asked questions

Why is there aircraft noise around Vancouver International?: Vancouver International Airport (YVR/CYVR) is Canada's second-busiest airport, handling around 26 million passengers per year on three runways (two parallel + one cross). The airport sits on Sea Island in the City of Richmond, 10 km south of downtown Vancouver across the south arm of the Fraser River. Most arrivals approach from over the Strait of Georgia (to the west), and most departures climb out either over water or via specific noise-abatement procedures. The corridor still affects Richmond, Steveston, Marpole, and Kerrisdale. Downtown Vancouver and the North Shore sit clear.
Which Vancouver neighborhoods are quietest for aircraft noise?: Downtown Vancouver (West End, Coal Harbour, Yaletown, Gastown, Downtown Eastside), the North Shore (North Vancouver, West Vancouver), East Vancouver (Commercial Drive, Mount Pleasant, Strathcona), Burnaby, and most areas north of False Creek sit clear of the corridor and catch only altitude overflight. The affected areas are concentrated south of the Fraser: Richmond (most of it), Steveston, parts of Delta, and the south Vancouver neighborhoods Marpole and Kerrisdale.
Is Richmond loud from planes?: Yes — Richmond is the most consistently affected city in the Vancouver metro area. The City of Richmond essentially surrounds YVR on three sides, with the airport on its northern edge. Different parts of Richmond catch different corridors — central Richmond is most affected by approaches; Steveston catches departure climb-out; the western parts catch both. Despite this, Richmond is a popular expat destination (particularly for Chinese-Canadian community and other newcomers) because of housing affordability vs. downtown Vancouver and excellent SkyTrain Canada Line access. Drop a pin on the map above to see your specific street.
Is downtown Vancouver loud from planes?: Mostly no — downtown Vancouver sits ~10 km north of YVR and catches only altitude overflight at moderate heights (~3000-5000 ft). The dense waterfront and high-rise residential neighborhoods (West End, Coal Harbour, Yaletown) get less aircraft noise than they get from seaplane operations at Coal Harbour and helicopter operations from various downtown helipads. For most downtown apartment dwellers, aircraft noise from YVR is not a significant factor.
How does Vancouver YVR compare to Seattle SEA for noise?: Vancouver YVR sits closer to its city center (10 km vs. SEA's 21 km) but Vancouver's geography (the Fraser River, Sea Island location, mountains) confines the noise corridor more than Seattle's. SEA's noise affects extensive northern Seattle suburbs (Burien, SeaTac, Des Moines); YVR's noise mostly affects Richmond. Both airports operate 24/7. For Pacific Northwest relocators choosing between the two, Vancouver's downtown is more aircraft-noise-friendly; Seattle has more suburb-level impact.
How do I report aircraft noise at YVR?: Submit complaints to YVR's Noise & Air Quality Department via yvr.ca/en/community/noise. The Vancouver Airport Authority operates a 24-hour noise complaint hotline. The City of Richmond Department of Engineering also tracks noise complaints from the affected areas. NavCanada handles air traffic complaints. The YVR/CAC (Community Aviation Council) reviews aggregated complaints quarterly.
Does coverage on this map include all aircraft?: Yes — commercial Canadian and international fleets at YVR have near-100% ADS-B coverage. The heatmap and density layers reflect actual traffic accurately. Seaplane operations from Coal Harbour and the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre have lower ADS-B coverage but operate from a different airport (YHC) and don't affect YVR's corridors.

Sources and further reading

Vancouver International Airport — Wikipedia — Wikipedia
YVR — Aircraft Noise — Vancouver Airport Authority
NavCanada — Pacific Region — NavCanada
City of Richmond — Environmental Programs — City of Richmond

Data updated 2026-10-17 — live ADS-B monitoring, rolling 30-day statistics (methodology). Article text revised 2026-05-23.

30 dB	Whisper
45 dB	Quiet residential
55 dB	Normal conversation
65 dB	Busy road
75 dB	Vacuum cleaner
85 dB	Heavy traffic
95 dB	Motorcycle nearby

Flight Noise

Layers

Live Tracking

Filters

Saved Pins

Flight Noise — User Manual

What is this?

Live Tracking

Heatmap

Flight Paths

Point Analysis

Noise Level Reference

Filters

Tips

Share this map

Pins shared with you

Vancouver Flight Path Noise Map – Vancouver International Airport (YVR)

Aircraft noise around Vancouver in October 2026

Does Vancouver Airport have a curfew?

Which neighborhoods are quietest — and which aren’t

Flight patterns and runway use

When is it quietest?

How to check noise at your specific address

Frequently asked questions

Sources and further reading

Other airports we track

🇦🇺 Adelaide, Australia

🇪🇸 Alicante, Spain

🇳🇱 Amsterdam, Netherlands

🇦🇺 Archerfield, Australia

🇬🇷 Athens, Greece

🇺🇸 Atlanta, USA

🇳🇿 Auckland, New Zealand

🇺🇸 Austin, USA

🇮🇩 Bali, Indonesia

🇦🇺 Ballina, Australia

🇺🇸 Baltimore, USA

🇮🇳 Bangalore, India

🇹🇭 Bangkok, Thailand

🇦🇺 Bankstown, Australia

🇪🇸 Barcelona, Spain

🇫🇷 Basel, France

🇱🇧 Beirut, Lebanon

🇬🇧 Belfast City, UK

🇩🇪 Berlin, Germany

🇪🇸 Bilbao, Spain

🇨🇦 Billy Bishop, Canada

🇬🇧 Birmingham, UK

🇨🇴 Bogotá, Colombia

🇺🇸 Boston, USA

🇦🇺 Brisbane, Australia

🇬🇧 Bristol, UK

🇧🇪 Brussels, Belgium

🇧🇪 Brussels Charleroi, Belgium

🇭🇺 Budapest, Hungary

🇦🇷 Buenos Aires, Argentina

🇦🇺 Canberra, Australia

🇿🇦 Cape Town, South Africa

🇨🇴 Cartagena, Colombia

🇺🇸 Charlotte, USA

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai, Thailand

🇺🇸 Chicago, USA

🇺🇸 Chicago O'Hare, USA

🇳🇿 Christchurch, New Zealand

🇩🇪 Cologne, Germany

🇩🇰 Copenhagen, Denmark

🇵🇪 Cusco, Peru

🇻🇳 Da Nang, Vietnam

🇺🇸 Dallas, USA

🇮🇳 Delhi, India

🇺🇸 Denver, USA

🇺🇸 Detroit, USA

🇺🇸 DFW, USA

🇶🇦 Doha, Qatar

🇹🇭 Don Mueang, Thailand

🇦🇪 Dubai, UAE

🇮🇪 Dublin, Ireland

🇩🇪 Düsseldorf, Germany

🇬🇧 Edinburgh, UK

🇳🇱 Eindhoven, Netherlands

Adelaide, Australia

Alicante, Spain

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Archerfield, Australia

Athens, Greece

Atlanta, USA

Auckland, New Zealand

Austin, USA

Bali, Indonesia

Ballina, Australia

Baltimore, USA

Bangalore, India

Bangkok, Thailand

Bankstown, Australia

Barcelona, Spain

Basel, France

Beirut, Lebanon

Belfast City, UK

Berlin, Germany

Bilbao, Spain

Billy Bishop, Canada

Birmingham, UK

Bogotá, Colombia

Boston, USA

Brisbane, Australia

Bristol, UK

Brussels, Belgium

Brussels Charleroi, Belgium

Budapest, Hungary

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Canberra, Australia

Cape Town, South Africa

Cartagena, Colombia

Charlotte, USA

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chicago, USA

Chicago O'Hare, USA

Christchurch, New Zealand

Cologne, Germany

Copenhagen, Denmark

Cusco, Peru

Da Nang, Vietnam

Dallas, USA

Delhi, India

Denver, USA

Detroit, USA

DFW, USA

Doha, Qatar

Don Mueang, Thailand

Dubai, UAE

Dublin, Ireland

Düsseldorf, Germany

Edinburgh, UK

Eindhoven, Netherlands

Faro, Portugal

Florence, Italy

Fort Lauderdale, USA

Frankfurt, Germany

Funchal, Portugal

Gatwick, UK

Geneva, Switzerland

Glasgow, UK

Gold Coast, Australia

Hamburg, Germany

Hanoi, Vietnam

Heathrow, UK

Helsinki, Finland

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Hobart, Australia

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Honolulu, USA

Houston, USA

Houston IAH, USA

Ibiza, Spain

Jandakot, Australia

John Wayne, USA

Kathmandu, Nepal

Keflavík, Iceland

Kraków, Poland

Las Vegas, USA