Newport News, VA Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)

Section 28-36 opens with a policy declaration that noise jeopardizing public health, welfare, peace, safety or quality of life may be regulated to the extent consistent with state and federal law. Rather than a decibel limit, the ordinance uses a "plainly audible" standard, defined as any sound heard by the human ear with or without a hearing aid; specific words don't need to be discernible, and detecting bass reverberations alone is enough, so long as the sound isn't so faint its source can't be identified.

Subsection (c)(1) bars playing a television, radio, in-vehicle audio system, record or CD player, drum, instrument, loudspeaker, or any amplification system so it's plainly audible inside another person's enclosed dwelling unit, meaning the target dwelling's doors and windows are closed. Subsection (c)(3) separately bars the same conduct from outside the walls of an assisted living facility, court, medical care facility, nursing home, or school while it's in use as such. limited to five minutes an hour. A first offense is a Class 3 misdemeanor; a second or later violation within twelve months steps up to a Class 2 misdemeanor. The city can also seek an injunction in circuit court against a continuing violation, on top of the criminal penalty.