Arlington County, VA Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in Arlington County, VA, sometimes called construction noise rules or contractor work-hour ordinances, set when contractors can run power tools, hammers, and heavy equipment.
Key Facts
- Permitted construction hours (weekdays)
- 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- Permitted construction hours (weekends/holidays)
- 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- Absolute construction noise cap
- 90 dBA at any time
- Emergency utility repairs
- Exempt from daytime-only rule
- Criminal penalty
- $100-$2,500 fine or up to 30 days jail
- Civil penalty
- $250 first offense, $500 repeat
Summary
Arlington County's Noise Control Ordinance confines loud construction work to Daytime hours only, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends and holidays, and caps construction noise at 90 dBA no matter the time, under § 15-5.D. Emergency utility repairs are exempt from the daytime-only rule.
Any construction activities which produce noise which exceeds the noise limits established in Table I shall be permitted only during the Daytime. ... In no event shall noise originating from construction sites exceed ninety (90) dBA. Measurements of construction-related noise are to be taken in accordance with the procedures established in § 15-5.C.
Full Breakdown
on Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays; construction noise above those limits is barred outright during Nighttime. The daytime-only rule does not apply to emergency repairs to public utilities and infrastructure performed by the utilities themselves, or by local, state or federal governments or their contractors, using the definition of "public utility" at Va. Code § 56-88. 2 sets an absolute ceiling: no construction site may exceed 90 dBA at any time, and contractors must use "all feasible procedures and measures customarily used in the industry" to minimize the noise their activity generates.
C, generally from the curb or edge of pavement of a built street or from the property receiving the noise; in a multi-unit residential structure, measurement instead comes from a common area or, with the resident's consent, from inside a unit at least four feet from the nearest wall, ceiling, floor or window. E instead of the D subsection. The County Manager administers Chapter 15 under § 15-4 and may inspect a site under § 15-8.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the Daytime-only rule or the 90-dBA construction cap can be charged as a misdemeanor under § 15-9, carrying a fine of $100 to $2,500, up to 30 days in jail, or both, with each day a separate offense. The County Manager may instead cite the contractor civilly under § 15-10 for up to $250 on a first violation and $500 on each subsequent one, with every hour unabated counted separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hours can construction crews make noise in Arlington County?
Is there a maximum decibel level for construction noise?
Are emergency repairs exempt from the construction noise hours?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arlington County
How Arlington County compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·Compare Arlington County to another location·View the Virginia noise ordinances overview
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