Fairfax, VA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)

Virginia Supreme Court rulings a decade ago invalidated older noise ordinances that relied solely on vague unreasonable noise language or on decibel standards without proper calibration rules, which pushed Virginia localities including the City of Fairfax toward a plainly-audible enforcement model for residential complaints. That standard asks whether an ordinary person can clearly hear the sound at a fixed distance, typically 50 feet, or inside a neighboring dwelling. For commercial and industrial properties, the zoning ordinance uses performance standards that function as de facto decibel caps at residential property lines, commonly around 65 dBA during daytime hours and 55 dBA at night. Enforcement with a sound meter is reserved for industrial complaints, persistent HVAC disputes, and special use permit compliance reviews. Meters must be ANSI Type 1 or Type 2 and the measurement must be taken by a trained operator following the manufacturer procedure, usually for at least 10 minutes. Residents who want a decibel-based enforcement response should ask the city to coordinate with Code Administration rather than rely on patrol officers.