Henrico County, VA Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Exempt category
- Aircraft and railroad equipment, Sec. 10-69(9)
- No curfew applies
- 11 p.m.-7 a.m. noise rules do not cover flights
- No fine available
- Sec. 10-67 penalties never trigger
- Airport operator
- Richmond Metropolitan Airport Authority, not the county
- Governing code
- Henrico County Code Sec. 10-69(9)
Summary
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.
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.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 10-69 opens by stating that the prohibitions of section 10-68 do not apply to any sound or noise generated by any of fourteen listed categories. curfew that otherwise governs sound equipment, parties, construction and lawn work under Sec. 10-68. The same section exempts other categories for context: sound necessary to protect property or restore utility service (item 1), road and highway construction (item 2), emergency-vehicle sirens (item 3), parades and fireworks displays (item 4), school and college activities (item 5), sanctioned county-park athletics (item 6), alarms before a reasonable chance to silence them (item 7), religious services (item 8), military activity (item 10), agricultural operations under Code of Virginia Sec.
2-300 (item 11), sanctioned motorsports competitions (item 12), and activities protected by the First Amendment (item 13). Because aircraft sit on this exemption list rather than under any Sec. 10-68 prohibition, there is no county fine, decibel limit or curfew a resident can invoke against overflight or airport-related noise. Richmond International Airport, which sits inside Henrico's borders, is operated by the Richmond Metropolitan Airport Authority, a regional body separate from county government, and aircraft noise complaints and operating hours are matters of federal aviation regulation and airport-authority policy rather than county ordinance.
Violations & Fines
There is no violation or penalty to enforce: Sec. 10-69(9) places aircraft and railroad noise outside the reach of Sec. 10-68 entirely, so no fine, summons or magistrate process under Sec. 10-67 applies to it. A resident with an aircraft-noise complaint has no county citation to pursue under this chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Henrico resident file a noise complaint over airport traffic?
Why does county code exempt aircraft from noise rules?
Who runs Richmond International Airport if not Henrico County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Henrico County
Compare Henrico County to another location·View the Virginia noise ordinances overview
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