Noise Ordinances in Virginia Beach, VA (2026)
7 verified noise ordinances for Virginia Beach, Virginia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Virginia Beach City Code Sec. 23-69 caps sound entering another residential dwelling at 55 dBA between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., and 65 dBA between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Measurements are taken inside the receiving residence at least four feet from the wall nearest the source, with doors and windows closed.
Virginia Beach Noise Ordinance Quiet Hours
Some RestrictionsLeaf Blower Rules
Virginia Beach does not have a dedicated leaf blower ordinance, but gas and electric leaf blowers must comply with the citywide noise standards in City Code Chapter 23, Article II. Use is generally acceptable during reasonable daytime hours, and commercial landscapers should be mindful of the 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. quiet window and residential zone sound limits.
Leaf Blower Rules in Virginia Beach
Few RestrictionsAmplified Music & Events
Amplified music in Virginia Beach is regulated under City Code Chapter 23, Article II, which prohibits sound that is audible beyond property lines at unreasonable levels, especially between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. The Oceanfront Resort Area has additional rules tied to entertainment permits, and outdoor concerts require a special event permit from the city.
Amplified Music Rules in Virginia Beach
Some RestrictionsAircraft Noise
Naval Air Station Oceana's Air Installations Compatible Use Zones (AICUZ) overlay restricts residential density and noise-sensitive uses across much of central and southern Virginia Beach, with the strictest limits in 75+ dB DNL contours.
NAS Oceana AICUZ Noise Zones
Heavy RestrictionsIndustrial Noise
Industrial noise in Virginia Beach is regulated through the general noise provisions of City Code Chapter 23 combined with zoning performance standards for the I-1 and I-2 industrial districts. Industrial operations must not produce sound beyond their property line that is unreasonable for the zoning district, and noise that spills into adjacent residential areas is subject to stricter review.
Industrial Noise Rules in Virginia Beach
Some RestrictionsDecibel Limits
Virginia Beach does not rely on a single fixed-decibel table in its noise ordinance. Instead, City Code Chapter 23 uses a plainly audible and unreasonable-noise standard, supplemented by performance standards in the zoning code. Officers enforce the ordinance based on whether sound crosses the property line and disturbs a reasonable person, rather than by carrying a decibel meter to every call.
Decibel Limits in Virginia Beach
Some RestrictionsOutdoor Music
Outdoor music in Virginia Beach is regulated by City Code Chapter 23 and by specific zoning conditions at Oceanfront venues. Residential outdoor music is permitted during daytime hours, while commercial outdoor music at restaurants, hotels, and event spaces requires an entertainment permit and must end by the curfew written into that permit.