Roanoke County, VA Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in Roanoke 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
- Prohibited hours
- 10:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m.
- Covers
- Buildings, streets, roads, alleys
- First offense
- Class 3 misdemeanor
- Exemption
- Emergency work, § 13-19(1)
- Enforcement
- Roanoke County Police
Summary
Construction, repair, alteration or demolition equipment cannot run in Roanoke County between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Section 13-21(1) of the county code lists that overnight work, whether on a building, street, road or alley, as a noise disturbance in itself, without any need to show a specific decibel level.
(1)Engaging in, or operating or causing to be operated any equipment used in the construction, repair, alteration or demolition of buildings, streets, roads, alleys or appurtenances thereto between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day.
Full Breakdown
Section 13-21(1) is Roanoke County's construction-hours rule, folded into the general noise-disturbance article rather than the building code. the following day. Unlike several of the article's other clauses, this one does not require proof that the sound was 'plainly audible' at any particular distance; the prohibited hours alone make the activity a violation. The rule does not apply to work that qualifies as emergency work under § 13-19(1), meaning repairs needed to restore property to a safe condition after a declared state or local emergency, or work required to protect people or property from immediate danger, including emergency work by the Western Virginia Water Authority, the Town of Vinton Public Works department, or public service companies.
Outside that carve-out, a contractor or homeowner running heavy equipment overnight anywhere in unincorporated Roanoke County, including on public streets and roads, is subject to the curfew regardless of the underlying zoning district, since § 13-21 is a countywide public-nuisance rule rather than a zoning standard.
Violations & Fines
A first violation of the overnight construction curfew is a Class 3 misdemeanor under § 13-22(a); a second violation within one year of a prior conviction under the article is a Class 2 misdemeanor. Each day the equipment runs past the curfew is charged as a separate offense, and the county may also seek an injunction from the circuit court against continuing overnight work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do I have to stop construction noise in Roanoke County?
Is there an exception for emergency repairs after a storm?
Does the construction curfew apply to road work by the county itself?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Roanoke County
How Roanoke County compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·Compare Roanoke County to another location·View the Virginia noise ordinances overview
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