Noise Ordinances in Henrico County, VA (2026)
8 rules for unincorporated Henrico County, Virginia.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Henrico County's noise ordinance sets one baseline curfew: between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., no sound is permitted to carry plainly audible into a neighbor's dwelling or 100 feet into a residential area. Code Sec. 10-68 applies that same clock to sound equipment, parties, construction, street cleaning and lawn work, all enforced under Sec. 10-67's escalating fines up to $2,500.
Henrico's 11 PM-7 AM Noise Curfew
Some RestrictionsHenrico County Code Sec. 10-68(2)
It is unlawful for any person to cause or permit to be caused any of the following prohibited sounds or noises: ... (2) Sound-producing and sound-reproducing devices. a. The use, operation, or playing of any radio, phonograph, television, projector, record, compact disc, tape, digital music, MP3 or DVD player, musical instrument, microphone, loudspeaker, sound amplifier, or similar device desig...
Construction Hours
Henrico County bars construction, demolition and street-or-parking-lot cleaning noise that is plainly audible in a residential area between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., under Sec. 10-68(5). The window runs an hour shorter than the county's general 11:00 p.m.-to-7:00 a.m. noise curfew, and the rule does not apply in areas zoned urban mixed use.
Henrico Construction Noise Ban: 11 PM-6 AM
Some RestrictionsHenrico County Code Sec. 10-68(5)
(5) Street cleaning and construction. The creation of any sound or noise between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. that is plainly audible in a residential area, except those areas zoned for urban mixed use, when the sound or noise is produced in connection with: a. The cleaning of streets or parking lots; or b. Construction or demolition activities.
Barking Dogs
Henrico County's noise code treats a barking dog like any other nuisance sound: under Sec. 10-68(3), an animal that is plainly audible at least once a minute for ten straight minutes, either inside a neighbor's home or 100 feet away, violates the ordinance. Commercial kennels, boarding facilities, vet clinics and the county shelter are exempt from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Henrico Noisy Animal Rule: 10 Minutes Straight
Some RestrictionsHenrico County Code Sec. 10-68(3)
(3) Noisy animals. Allowing any animal to cause any sound or noise such that it is plainly audible: a. Inside the confines of the dwelling unit, house, or apartment of another person at least once a minute for ten consecutive minutes; or b. At 100 or more feet from the animal at least once a minute for ten consecutive minutes. However, this prohibition does not apply to animal sounds or noises ...
Leaf Blower Rules
Henrico County bars lawn care, leaf removal, gardening, tree work and other landscaping noise that is plainly audible in a residential area between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., under Sec. 10-68(8). The rule covers leaf blowers along with mowers, trimmers and chainsaws, but exempts noise from maintaining recreational facilities such as golf courses and ball fields.
Henrico Yard Work Noise Rule: 11 PM-7 AM Ban
Some RestrictionsHenrico County Code Sec. 10-68(8)
(8) Lawn care activities. Creating any sound or noise plainly audible in residential areas between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in connection with lawn care, leaf removal, gardening, tree maintenance or removal or other landscaping, lawn or timbering activities. The provisions of this subsection do not apply to sound or noise generated by the maintenance of recreational facilities, such as golf cou...
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Henrico County bars any radio, speaker, stereo or musical instrument from being plainly audible 50 or more feet away in a residential area between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., or inside another person's home at any hour, under Sec. 10-68(2). Commercial establishments in urban mixed-use zones, and recreational or nonresidential property between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., are exempt.
Henrico Sound Equipment Rule: 50 Feet, 11 PM-7 AM
Some RestrictionsHenrico County Code Sec. 10-68(2)
(2) Sound-producing and sound-reproducing devices. a. The use, operation, or playing of any radio, phonograph, television, projector, record, compact disc, tape, digital music, MP3 or DVD player, musical instrument, microphone, loudspeaker, sound amplifier, or similar device designed or used for producing or reproducing sound, regardless of whether such sound-producing or sound-reproducing devi...
Aircraft Noise
Henrico County's noise ordinance does not reach aircraft at all: Sec. 10-69(9) lists 'locomotives and other railroad equipment, and aircraft' among the sounds specifically exempt from every prohibition in Sec. 10-68. That means the plainly-audible curfews covering parties, sound equipment and construction never apply to airport or flight noise inside the county.
Henrico Has No Local Aircraft Noise Rule
Few RestrictionsHenrico County Code Sec. 10-69(9)
The prohibitions of section 10-68 do not apply to any sound or noise generated by any of the following: ... (9) Locomotives and other railroad equipment, and aircraft.
Decibel Limits
Henrico measures noise by how far it carries and what time it is, not a decibel meter reading. Amplified sound and stereos may not be plainly audible 50 feet away or into a neighbor's home between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., and party noise from ten or more people can't reach 100 feet after 11 p.m.
Henrico County Noise Limits by Distance & Hour
Some RestrictionsHenrico County Code § 10-68(2)
Sec. 10-68. Prohibited noises enumerated. It is unlawful for any person to cause or permit to be caused any of the following prohibited sounds or noises: ... (2) Sound-producing and sound-reproducing devices. a. The use, operation, or playing of any radio, phonograph, television ... in such a manner or with such volume or duration that it is plainly audible: 1. Inside the confines of the dwelli...
Vehicle Noise
Henrico County makes it unlawful to play a car stereo, radio or other sound-amplifying device inside or on a motor vehicle loud enough to be heard 50 feet away, at any hour of the day. Fines start at $500 and climb sharply for repeat offenses. Ice cream trucks get a narrow carve-out between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Henrico Bans Loud Car Stereos Heard 50 Feet Away
Some RestrictionsHenrico County Code § 10-68(7)
Amplified sound from vehicles. Playing, using or operating, or permitting the playing, use or operation of, any radio, stereo, tape player, compact disc player, loudspeaker or other electronic device or mechanical equipment used for the amplification of sound, which is located on or within a motor vehicle and which is plainly audible from outside the motor vehicle at a distance of 50 feet or mo...
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