Albemarle County, VA Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Overlay district
- Airport Impact Area (AIA), § 18-30.2
- Residential/school/hospital cap
- Ldn ≤ 45 dB(A) indoors
- Office/retail/hotel cap
- Ldn ≤ 55 dB(A) indoors
- Park/industrial cap
- Ldn ≤ 70 dB(A) indoors
- Certifying official
- Albemarle County building official
- Civil penalty
- $200 first summons, $500 each additional
Summary
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.
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" conformance to these requirements shall be certified by the building official prior to the issuance of any certificate of occupancy. ... Plats or plans of lands within the noise impact area approved by any Albemarle County official shall prominently display a disclosure statement that such plat or plan includes land and/or buildings within the AIA noise impact area.
Full Breakdown
2. 1: Ldn 45 dB(A) or less indoors for residential units, schools, libraries, churches, hospitals and auditoriums; Ldn 55 dB(A) for offices, retail, movie theaters and hotels; and Ldn 70 dB(A) for parks and recreation, sports arenas, distribution and manufacturing uses. Compliance is not self-certified: the Albemarle County building official must certify that building plans conform to these standards before construction begins, and must again certify 'as-built' conformance before issuing a certificate of occupancy. Plats or plans covering land inside the noise impact area must also carry a prominent disclosure statement noting that the property lies within the AIA noise impact area, so buyers and lenders see the airport-noise designation before closing.
6 bars any cluster development or density bonus in the AIA unless the planning commission finds the clustered layout will reduce, or at least match, the noise and hazard impacts of standard development under the underlying zoning district. 2.
Violations & Fines
Aircraft-noise standards are enforced as zoning violations under chapter 18, § 36. The zoning administrator investigates complaints and issues a notice of violation appealable to the board of zoning appeals within the statutory window. Civil penalties run $200 for an initial summons and $500 for each additional summons from the same facts, capped at $5,000 total, after which the county may prosecute as a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $10 to $1,000 under § 18-36.4.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Albemarle County aircraft noise rule apply to my property?
How is compliance verified before I can move in?
What noise level must a new house in the noise impact area meet?
What happens if a builder ignores the noise impact area disclosure or standards?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Albemarle County
Compare Albemarle County to another location·View the Virginia noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.