Roanoke County, VA Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)

Chapter 13, Article II is the county's general noise ordinance, adopted to promote an environment free from excessive noise that jeopardizes health, welfare or quality of life under § 13-17. Before any of the article's specific noise-disturbance rules in § 13-21 can apply, § 13-19 carves out a list of activities the article does not reach at all. Item (11) removes 'locomotives and other railroad equipment, and aircraft' from coverage entirely, meaning flights over the county, whether general aviation traffic near the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport or aircraft elsewhere in county airspace, are not subject to the plainly-audible or nighttime-curfew standards that apply to construction equipment, loudspeakers or vehicle stereos.

, commercial and industrial sound authorized by the underlying zoning district, sound covered by a hardship waiver under § 13-23, noise preempted by federal law, and lawful firearms discharge. Because federal law governs aviation noise and airspace, the county's own ordinance simply steps aside for aircraft rather than setting its own local standard.