Chesterfield County's noise ordinance sets no numeric decibel limit. It relies on a 'plainly audible' standard measured inside a neighbor's dwelling or at 50 or more feet, so police do not need a sound meter to issue a citation.
After Virginia's 2009 court ruling struck down vague 'unreasonably loud' noise ordinances, Chesterfield County repealed its old Sec. 14-26 decibel/nuisance language and re-enacted Sec. 14-27 on 9/23/09 around a 'plainly audible' test. Under Sec. 14-27(a), sound is a violation when it is plainly audible either inside another person's dwelling or at 50 or more feet from the source, particularly between 12:01 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. Because the standard is audibility rather than a measured decibel level, enforcement relies on an officer's or complainant's perception at the 50-foot boundary rather than a calibrated meter reading. Neighboring independent cities may use different standards.
Any plainly-audible violation of Sec. 14-27 is a misdemeanor punishable by a $100 to $500 fine under subsection (h).
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