Noise Ordinances in Albemarle County, VA (2026)
7 rules for unincorporated Albemarle County, Virginia.
Verified from official government sources
Construction Hours
In Albemarle County outside Charlottesville and Scottsville, construction, demolition and maintenance sound is barred between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. under County Code § 7-105(E) whenever it carries 100 feet past the property line or into a neighboring dwelling. A nighttime violation is punished more heavily than most other noise offenses.
Albemarle County Construction Noise Hours
Some RestrictionsAlbemarle County Code §§ 7-105(E), 7-108
E.Construction, demolition, or maintenance activities. Either of the following:1.Sound produced by construction, demolition, or maintenance activities between the hours of 10:00 p.m. any day and 7:00 a.m. the following day, and the sound is audible: (i) from a distance of 100 feet or more from the property line of the parcel on which the activities are located; or (ii) from inside a dwelling un...
Barking Dogs
Albemarle County makes it unlawful and a nuisance for an owner to harbor an animal that howls, barks, or makes other excessive noise for 30 straight minutes audible on a neighbor's property. County Code § 4-319 sets that bright-line test and makes a violation a class 3 misdemeanor.
Barking Dog Nuisance Rule in Albemarle County
Some RestrictionsAlbemarle County Code § 4-319(A), (C)
It is unlawful and shall be a nuisance for an owner or custodian of an animal to harbor the animal within the County if that animal frequently or for a continued duration howls, barks or makes other excessive or continuous sounds which are audible on the property of a complainant in the County. For the purposes of this section, "excessive or continuous sounds" means any howling, barking or othe...
Leaf Blower Rules
In Albemarle County outside Charlottesville and Scottsville, routine yard maintenance sound, including mowing, trimming and leaf blowing, is barred under County Code § 7-105(H) between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in residential districts, and between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. in non-residential and mixed-use districts.
Albemarle County Leaf Blower and Mower Hours
Some RestrictionsAlbemarle County Code § 7-105(H)
H.Yard maintenance activities. Sound produced by routine yard maintenance activities including, but not limited to, mowing, trimming, clipping, leaf blowing, and snow blowing between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. within a residential zoning district established pursuant to County Code Chapter 18, and between the hours of 10:00 p.m. any day and 6:00 a.m. the following day within any non-...
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
In Albemarle County outside Charlottesville and Scottsville, outdoor amplified music and public address systems are unlawful under County Code § 7-105(B)(5) whenever the sound is audible from inside a neighbor's dwelling unit or hotel room. The Chief of Police enforces the noise article, and the rule applies day and night with no fixed decibel table for this specific act.
Albemarle County Outdoor Amplified Music Rules
Some RestrictionsAlbemarle County Code § 7-105(B)(5)
5.Device producing outdoor amplified music or serving as an outdoor public address system. The device is located to produce outdoor amplified music, to serve as an outdoor public address system, or both, including any such device used in conjunction with an agricultural activity, and the sound is not otherwise regulated under subsections (B)(1) through (4) or exempt pursuant to County Code § 7-...
Aircraft Noise
In Albemarle County outside Charlottesville and Scottsville, buildings proposed inside the Airport Impact Area's noise impact area around Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport must meet acoustical performance standards under County Code § 18-30.2.5. Residential, school, library, church and hospital uses are capped at Ldn 45 dB(A) interior; offices and retail at Ldn 55; parks and industrial uses at Ldn 70.
Albemarle County Aircraft Noise Standards
Some RestrictionsAlbemarle County Code § 18-30.2.5
Any building or structure intended for human occupancy or use proposed to be located within the noise impact area shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the acoustical performance standards in section 30.2.5.1. Building plan conformance to these requirements shall be certified by the Albemarle County building official prior to initiation of construction activities. "As-built" conf...
Decibel Limits
Albemarle County sets hard decibel ceilings by receiving zone under Sec. 4.18.04: 60 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime in Rural Areas, Residential, and Public Space or Institutional zones, and 65 dBA in Commercial and 70 dBA in Industrial zones around the clock. Sound is measured at the receiving property line.
Albemarle County Noise Decibel Limits
Some RestrictionsAlbemarle County Code § 18-4.18.04
Sec. 4.18.04 - Maximum sound levels. Except as provided in section 4.18.05, it shall be unlawful for any person to operate or cause to be operated, any source such that the sound originating from that source causes a sound level that exceeds the sound levels in the receiving zone, measured pursuant to section 4.18.03, as set forth below: ... Receiving Zone Time Period Noise Level (dBA) Rural Ar...
Vehicle Noise
In Albemarle County outside Charlottesville and Scottsville, County Code § 7-105(A) bars motor vehicle and motorcycle sound from a missing or non-conforming muffler, jackrabbit starts, spinning tires, racing engines or a mounted refrigeration unit when it's audible 100 feet or more from the vehicle on a street or public property.
Albemarle County Vehicle Exhaust and Stereo Noise
Some RestrictionsAlbemarle County Code § 7-105(A)
A.Motor vehicle or motorcycle operation. The sound is produced by: (i) the absence of a muffler and exhaust system conforming to Virginia Code §§ 46.2-1047 and 46.2-1049 on a motor vehicle or a motorcycle; (ii) jackrabbit starts, spinning tires, racing engines, or other similar acts in a motor vehicle or on a motorcycle; or (iii) a refrigeration unit mounted on a motor vehicle, and either:1.On ...
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