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Noise Ordinances in Newport News, VA (2026)

5 verified noise ordinances for Newport News, Virginia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Quiet Hours

Playing music, TVs, or sound systems loud enough to be plainly audible inside a neighbor's closed home or vehicle is banned citywide at any hour under Newport News's noise ordinance.

Newport News Excessive Noise Ordinance

Some Restrictions

Newport News City Code § 28-36

Play, use, operate, or permit to be played, used or operated any television, radio, audio system in a motor vehicle, record, tape or compact disc player, drum, musical instrument, loudspeaker, communication system, amplification system, or any other sound production or reproduction system or device in such a manner that it is plainly audible inside the confines of another person's enclosed dwel...

Barking Dogs

Newport News makes animal or bird noise a public nuisance if it carries across a property line or into a neighbor's home overnight, or repeats once a minute for ten straight minutes at 50 or more feet.

Newport News Noisy Animal & Barking Dog Rules

Some Restrictions

Newport News City Code § 6-9

Any person who shall own, allow, permit, keep or harbor... any animal(s) or bird(s) which creates sound (i) that is plainly audible across property boundaries... between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.; ... or (iv) that is plainly audible at fifty (50) or more feet from the animal(s) or bird(s) at least once a minute for ten (10) consecutive minutes, shall be deemed to have caused or perm...

Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound

Newport News bans playing a radio, stereo, loudspeaker or any other amplification system so loudly it is "plainly audible" inside another person's enclosed dwelling, or outside a school, court, medical facility or nursing home while it's in use, under City Code § 28-36(c)(1),(3). The city uses an audibility test, not a decibel meter, and a first violation is a Class 3 misdemeanor.

Newport News Amplified Sound Noise Ban

Some Restrictions

Newport News City Code § 28-36(b),(c)(1),(c)(3)

(c)Prohibitions. It shall be unlawful for any person to:(1)Play, use, operate, or permit to be played, used or operated any television, radio, audio system in a motor vehicle, record, tape or compact disc player, drum, musical instrument, loudspeaker, communication system, amplification system, or any other sound production or reproduction system or device in such a manner that it is plainly au...

Decibel Limits

Commercial and industrial site plans in Newport News must build in noise abatement measures under the city council's noise abatement policy before the site plan can be approved.

Newport News Site Plan Noise Abatement Rule

Light Restrictions

Newport News City Code § 33.02-48

Noise abatement measures shall be included in accordance with the council-approved noise abatement policy.

Vehicle Noise

Newport News bans playing a car radio, stereo or other amplification system so loudly it's "plainly audible" inside another person's enclosed vehicle, under City Code § 28-36(c)(2). Windows-up loudness is what triggers the citation, not a decibel reading, and the offense escalates from a Class 3 to a Class 2 misdemeanor on a repeat within twelve months.

Newport News Loud Vehicle Stereo Ban

Some Restrictions

Newport News City Code § 28-36(c)(2)

(c)(2)Play, use, operate or permit to be played, used, or operated any radio, audio system, record, tape or compact disc player, drum, musical instrument, loudspeaker, communication system, amplification system, or any other sound production or reproduction system, within a motor vehicle such that it is plainly audible within another person's enclosed vehicle. Enclosed vehicle means a vehicle w...