Suffolk, VA Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in Suffolk, VA, sometimes called construction noise rules or contractor work-hour ordinances, set when contractors can run power tools, hammers, and heavy equipment.
Key Facts
- Restricted hours
- 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Trigger
- Within 100 yards of dwelling
- Exempt
- Public projects, utility repairs
- Code
- City Code Sec. 34-189(10)
Summary
Suffolk bars operating construction, demolition, or repair equipment between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. within 100 yards of an occupied dwelling, under City Code Section 34-189(10). Public projects and utility repairs are exempt. Violations are a Class 2 misdemeanor.
Operating or causing to be operated between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., any equipment used in the construction, repair, alteration or demolition work on buildings, structures, alleys, or appurtenances thereto in the outdoors in any zoning district within 100 yards of a lawfully occupied dwelling.
Full Breakdown
Section 34-189(10) of Suffolk's noise ordinance prohibits operating any equipment used in the construction, repair, alteration, or demolition of buildings between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. in any zoning district within 100 yards of a lawfully occupied dwelling. The same 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. window covers outdoor commercial loading and unloading in non-industrial zones under Section 34-189(9). Construction of public projects, and utility-company repairs or service restoration, are exempted. Daytime construction is otherwise unrestricted by hour, though it still cannot create excessive noise that is plainly audible 50 feet away.
Violations & Fines
Running construction equipment in the restricted hours violates Section 34-189, a Class 2 misdemeanor and public nuisance, carrying up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine under Virginia law.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hours can I do construction in Suffolk?
Are there exceptions?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Suffolk
How Suffolk compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·Compare Suffolk to another location·View the Virginia noise ordinances overview
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