Noise Ordinances in Fairfax, VA (2026)
6 verified noise ordinances for Fairfax, Virginia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
City of Fairfax Code Chapter 62 (Noise) establishes nighttime quiet hours from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM on weekdays and 11:00 PM to 8:00 AM on weekends and holidays. During these hours, sound from residential, commercial, or social activity must not be plainly audible at property lines. Virginia Code Section 15.2-1429 authorizes the city to regulate noise under its general police powers.
Noise: Quiet Hours
Some RestrictionsBarking Dogs
Barking, howling, or yelping that continues for a sustained period or repeats across periods is a violation of City of Fairfax Code Chapter 14 (Animals) and Chapter 62 (Noise). Animal control officers can cite owners after documented complaints, and repeated violations may lead to a nuisance animal designation with additional containment requirements.
Noise: Barking Dogs
Some RestrictionsAmplified Music & Events
Loud parties in the City of Fairfax are subject to Chapter 62 noise limits and can trigger landlord-tenant enforcement under the city crime-free rental program. A first response is usually a warning; a second response within a short window typically results in citations for the host and named guests.
Noise: Party Noise
Some RestrictionsIndustrial Noise
Commercial establishments in the City of Fairfax must keep HVAC, loading, trash compaction, and amplified sound within limits set by Chapter 62 and the zoning ordinance. Mixed-use buildings near Old Town and University Drive are subject to stricter nighttime standards to protect adjacent residential uses.
Noise: Commercial Noise
Some RestrictionsDecibel Limits
The City of Fairfax primarily enforces noise using a plainly-audible standard, but commercial and industrial zones carry implied decibel limits of roughly 65 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime at residential property lines through zoning performance standards. Residential enforcement rarely uses sound-meter readings.
Noise: Decibel Limits
Some RestrictionsVehicle Noise
Modified exhaust, loud car stereos audible at 50 feet, sustained horn use, and revving engines in residential zones are prohibited under City of Fairfax Code Chapter 62 and Chapter 82 (Traffic). Violations carry fines and can include equipment violation citations under Virginia Code Title 46.2.
Noise: Vehicle Noise
Some RestrictionsVa. Code § 46.2-1049
§ 46.2-1049. Exhaust system in good working order. No person shall drive and no owner of a vehicle shall permit or allow the operation of any such vehicle on a highway unless it is equipped with an exhaust system in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual levels of noise, provided, however, that for motor vehicles, such exhaust system shall be of a type ins...
Looking for Fairfax County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Fairfax city rules.
Noise Ordinances in Fairfax County →