York County, VA Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)

Two related subsections of York County's noise ordinance regulate construction. Section 16-19.2(i), 'Construction,' bars the erection, excavation, demolition, alteration or repair of any building or improvement between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. whenever the resulting sound is plainly audible beyond the property line where the work occurs, or inside an occupied dwelling unit other than the one being worked on with doors closed and windows positioned for the season. The county administrator may grant an emergency permit allowing extended hours, weighing the nature of the emergency, the proposed extended hours, their duration, the character of the surrounding area, and the number of residential units affected; the exception does not apply to emergency repairs performed by a government agency or public utility.

Section 16-19.2(j) separately restricts louder equipment, specifically chain saws, pile drivers, steam shovels, pneumatic hammers, derricks, and steam or electric hoists, banning their operation between 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. when the sound is plainly audible beyond the property line or inside an occupied dwelling with doors closed and windows shut for the season. Both provisions trace to Ord. No. 10-8(R-1), adopted January 18, 2011, and sit within the Board of Supervisors' declaration in Sec. 16-19 that excessive noise threatens public health, welfare and quality of life.

'Plainly audible' means detectable with unaided hearing per Sec. 16-19.1, so no sound meter is required for a citation. The York County Sheriff's Office enforces both subsections; the county administrator's office handles emergency-hours permit requests.