Arlington County, VA Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in Arlington County, VA, also called sound permit, PA system, or live music ordinances, set decibel limits, time-of-day restrictions, and when permits are required.
Key Facts
- Devices covered
- Radios, stereos, loudspeakers, musical instruments
- Trigger distance (inside a dwelling)
- 20 feet from source
- Trigger distance (across property/street)
- 50 feet from source
- Decibel level
- Irrelevant, audibility alone violates
- Exempt activities
- Permitted special events, religious gatherings
- Criminal penalty
- $100-$2,500 fine or up to 30 days jail
Summary
Section 15-6.F bars playing a radio, stereo, loudspeaker or musical instrument loudly enough to be heard inside another person's dwelling from 20 feet away, or 50 feet across a property line or street edge, at any hour and regardless of the decibel reading.
It shall be unlawful for any person to use, operate, or play, or to permit the use, operation or playing of, any radio, television, phonograph, record, compact disc or tape player, drum, musical instrument, loudspeaker, sound amplifier or similar device or machine which produces, reproduces or amplifies sound in such a manner as to be heard within any dwelling unit, house or apartment of another person at least 20 feet from the source of the sound, or at least 50 feet from the source of the sound and either across any real property boundary or at the curb or on the edge of the pavement of any built street.
Full Breakdown
F makes it unlawful "to use, operate, or play, or to permit the use, operation or playing of, any radio, television, phonograph, record, compact disc or tape player, drum, musical instrument, loudspeaker, sound amplifier or similar device or machine which produces, reproduces or amplifies sound" so that it is heard inside another person's dwelling, house or apartment from at least 20 feet away, or from at least 50 feet away across a real property boundary or at the curb or pavement edge of a built street.
Because this prohibited act sits outside the Table I decibel schedule, it applies regardless of how loud the source measures on a meter: audibility at the stated distance is itself the violation. B directs that the measurement be taken from the exterior wall of the building or enclosure housing it. F, which covers county-sponsored athletic events, church bells and carillons, religious or political gatherings protected by the First Amendment, and short-term events reviewed and permitted through the county's special-event process, capped separately at 90 dBA. Enforcement runs through the County Manager under § 15-4, with inspections available under § 15-8 in response to a complaint.
Violations & Fines
A violation of § 15-6.F can be charged as a misdemeanor under § 15-9: a fine of $100 to $2,500, up to 30 days in the Arlington County jail, or both, with each calendar day a separate offense. The County Manager may instead issue a civil citation under § 15-10, carrying up to $250 for a first violation and $500 for each later one, with every hour the sound continues a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Arlington County have a decibel limit for loud music?
Can I play music loudly if it's for a permitted block party or event?
How is a loud-music complaint measured if the source can't be seen?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arlington County
Compare Arlington County to another location·View the Virginia noise ordinances overview
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