Dive Brief:

• A proposed ordinance in New York City would stop contractors from starting work before 7 a.m. on weekdays and from going past 8 p.m.
• Saturdays would have five hours available for work—11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Three council members pushing the idea say they are not sure how much work would be affected, but they cite 686 complaints in six years about early or late noise and say "hardship" exemptions to current law are too easy to get.

Dive Insight:

It's not clear if the city needs a new ordinance or better enforcement of existing rules. Dan Garodnick, one of the backers, says the city's Buildings Department lets companies abuse the exemptions that permit work up to 24 hours a day. The bill would kill those exemptions all together and allow only public safety and emergency work early and late.