Portsmouth, VA Noise from Specific Sources: Generator Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 24-255(d)
- Night limit (residential)
- 55 dBA, 10 p.m.-6 a.m.
- Day limit (residential)
- 65 dBA, 6 a.m.-10 p.m.
- Commercial zone limit
- 75 dBA, any hour
- Generator exemption
- None listed in § 24-255(f)
- Measurement point
- Neighbor's side of property line
Summary
A home or business generator in Portsmouth must stay under the same decibel ceilings as any other sound source: 55 dBA at night and 65 dBA by day in a residential zone, or 75 dBA in a commercial zone, measured at the property line under City Code § 24-255(d). Nothing in the ordinance's exception list carves out generators.
(d)Offenses requiring scientific measurement of sound levels. The following sound levels shall be deemed to be excessive sound in violation of this section, when measured outside the real property line of the sound source. The zone shall be determined by where the sound is measured, not where it is generated.(1)Residential zones; night. In a residential zone between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., sound meeting or exceeding 55 dBA.(2)Residential zones; day. In a residential zone between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., sound meeting or exceeding 65 dBA.(3)Commercial zones. In a commercial zone, sound meeting or exceeding 75 dBA.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 65).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 24-255 defines excessive sound two ways: per se offenses in subsection (c) that need no meter reading, and measured decibel thresholds in subsection (d) that apply to 'any person' creating sound above the limit, regardless of source. ; in a commercial zone, 75 dBA at any hour. The reading is taken 'outside the real property line of the sound source,' so a generator running in one yard is measured from the neighbor's side of the line. ' Neither reaches an ordinary residential or commercial standby generator kept running for convenience during an outage; those exemptions are about repair activity, not powering a building.
A resident who runs a loud generator overnight during a storm is not automatically excused just because the power is out. Officers use a certified sound level meter under subsection (e), and the resulting certificate is admissible in court as evidence of the decibel reading.
Violations & Fines
Violating § 24-255's dBA limits with a generator is a Class IV misdemeanor on a first offense, fined up to $250.00 under § 1-11(a)(4), and a Class III misdemeanor, fined up to $500.00, for a second violation within 12 months. Complaints go to the Police Department, which may measure sound with a calibrated meter; the city or a neighbor may also seek an injunction under § 24-255(h) to stop a recurring problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an exception for running a generator during a power outage?
How loud can a generator legally run at night in a Portsmouth neighborhood?
Where is generator noise measured from?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Portsmouth
Compare Portsmouth to another location·View the Virginia noise from specific sources overview
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