Arlington County, VA Noise from Specific Sources: Bar & Nightclub Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Curfew window
- outdoor/rooftop seating noise, midnight-6 a.m.
- Where it applies
- Mixed Use Districts only
- Who is liable
- manager on duty, not just the patron
- Trigger distance
- heard 100+ feet away inside a home
- Fine range
- $250 first offense, $500 repeat
Summary
Bars and restaurants with outdoor seating in Arlington's Mixed Use Districts face a late-night quiet rule. Code § 15-6.O makes the manager on duty responsible for stopping patrons in an outdoor café or rooftop seating area from yelling, wailing or shouting loud enough to reach a nearby home between midnight and 6:00 a.m.
O. It shall be unlawful for the owner, manager, assistant manager, and other person in charge of a retail use located within any Mixed Use District, which includes an outdoor café, exterior rooftop seating area, or other use or activity in the exterior of the retail use to permit any person, while in the outdoor café, exterior rooftop seating area, or other exterior location, to engage in yelling, wailing, shouting, or screaming between the hours of Midnight and 6:00 a.m. such that the yelling, wailing, shouting, or screaming can be heard within any nearby dwelling unit, lodging unit, house or apartment of another person at least 100 feet from the source of the sound, unless otherwise provided for by the Special Events Policy.
Full Breakdown
O of the noise control chapter targets crowd noise from Arlington's nightlife corridors, which cluster in Mixed Use Districts like Clarendon, Ballston and Rosslyn. " Liability falls on the business's owner or manager on duty, not just the patron making the noise, which pushes bars and rooftop lounges to police their own outdoor seating after midnight. m. All three carve out an exception for events cleared through the County's Special Events Policy.
Violations & Fines
A bar or restaurant manager cited under § 15-6.O faces a civil fine of up to $250 for a first violation and up to $500 for each later one under § 15-10, issued by the County Manager and payable to the County Treasurer. Each hour the noise goes unaddressed counts as a separate offense, and the business, not just the patron, can be cited.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who gets cited when rooftop bar patrons are loud after midnight?
Does this rule apply to every bar in Arlington County?
Is there an exception for a permitted outdoor festival or bar crawl?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arlington County
Compare Arlington County to another location·View the Virginia noise from specific sources overview
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