Noise from Specific Sources in Fauquier County, VA (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Fauquier County, Virginia.
Verified from official government sources
HVAC & Mechanical Noise
Heat pumps and air conditioners in unincorporated Fauquier County are exempt from the county noise ordinance's decibel limits and time restrictions as long as the unit is operated according to the manufacturer's specifications.
HVAC and heat pump noise rules in Fauquier County
Few RestrictionsFauquier County Code § 13.5-4(a)(13)
(a)The following activities shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter: ... (13)Heat pumps and/or air conditioners operated in accordance with manufacturer's specifications.
Car Alarm Limits
Fauquier County's noise ordinance specifically exempts alarms and other noise from a motor vehicle locking or unlocking, along with electric garage door openers, from the chapter's decibel and quiet-hours rules under Code § 13.5-4(a)(14). A vehicle's factory lock/unlock alarm chirp cannot be cited as a noise violation.
Car Alarm Noise Exemption in Fauquier County, VA
Few RestrictionsFauquier County Code § 13.5-4(a)(14)
The following activities shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter: ... Electric garage door openers when properly installed and operated according to manufacturer's specifications and alarms or noise emanating from a motor vehicle when locking or unlocking such vehicle.
Generator Noise
Fauquier County exempts backup generators from its noise ordinance entirely when they run during power outages caused by storms or other emergencies, so residents and businesses running emergency power do not face a decibel limit or time-of-day restriction for that use.
Backup generator noise rules in Fauquier County
Few RestrictionsFauquier County Code § 13.5-4(a)(12)
(a)The following activities shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter: ... (12)Operation of backup generators during power outages resulting from storms or other emergencies.
Delivery Truck Noise
In unincorporated Fauquier County, refuse collection and sanitation service vehicles are exempt from the county noise ordinance's daytime start times and may begin operating as early as 6:00 a.m., ahead of the 7:00 or 9:00 a.m. threshold that applies to other regulated noise sources.
Refuse truck noise hours in Fauquier County
Some RestrictionsFauquier County Code § 13.5-4(b)(3)
(b)The following activities or sources of sound shall be exempt during the hours of: i) 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday; ii) 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. Friday; iii) 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. Saturday; and iv) 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. Sunday, unless specifically noted otherwise herein, from the prohibitions in this chapter: ... (3)Refuse collection and sanitation services, except t...
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