Prince William County, VA Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in Prince William 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
- Weekday hours
- 7 a.m.-9 p.m.
- Weekend/holiday hours
- 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
- Distance trigger
- Within 100 yards of a dwelling
- Nighttime construction
- Prohibited near dwellings
- Code section
- PWC Code § 14-4(c)
Summary
Prince William County Code § 14-4(c) lets permitted construction run 7 a.m.-9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m.-9 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays within 100 yards of a home, exempt from the decibel table. Nighttime construction near dwellings is prohibited.
Any person, with lawfully obtained permits, who between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. weekdays and between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays... operates... any equipment used in construction... shall not be subject to the levels enumerated in Table 1.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 46 Update 4).
Full Breakdown
Under Ch. 14 § 14-4(c), a person with lawfully obtained permits may operate construction, repair, alteration or demolition equipment outdoors in a residential zoning district within 100 yards of a lawfully occupied dwelling between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. weekdays and 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and county-observed legal holidays without being subject to the Table 1 decibel limits. Outside those hours the decibel limits apply, and nighttime construction near dwellings is flatly prohibited. Public-project and utility repair/restoration work is exempt from the levels.
Violations & Fines
Prohibited nighttime construction near a dwelling is a Class 4 misdemeanor (first offense), rising to Class 3 for a repeat within 365 days; civil penalties of $250/$500 may apply in lieu.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hours can contractors work in Prince William County?
Are public and utility projects exempt?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Prince William County
How Prince William County compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·Compare Prince William County to another location·View the Virginia noise ordinances overview
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