Hanover County, VA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential/agricultural limit
- 57 dB(A) day / 52 dB(A) night
- Commercial limit
- 67 dB(A) day / 62 dB(A) night
- Industrial limit
- 77 dB(A), 24 hours
- Daytime hours
- 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Measured at
- Receiving property's zoning district
Summary
Hanover County caps noise crossing onto another property at set decibel levels tied to the receiving property's zoning district: 57/52 dB(A) day/night in agricultural and residential zones, 67/62 in commercial zones, and 77 around the clock in industrial zones, under section 16-10 of the county code.
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate, or permit to be operated, any noise source in such a manner that the noise source emits a sound pressure level which exceeds the limits set forth below when measured on property other than that on which the noise source is located. ... Land Use Designation Where Noise is Measured Maximum Lav dB(A) 7:00 a.m.—10:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m.—7:00 a.m. Agricultural and Residential: Zones A-C, A-1, AR-1, AR-2, AR-6, R-C, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, R-6 57 52 Commercial: Zones B-1, B-2, B-3, O-S 67 62 Industrial: Zones M-1, M-2, M-3 77 77
Full Breakdown
Section 16-10 sets the maximum permissible sound pressure level a noise source may emit onto property other than the property where it originates, and the applicable limit is fixed by the zoning classification of the property where the sound is measured, not the property producing it. m. Commercial zones B-1, B-2, B-3 and O-S allow 67 dB(A) by day and 62 dB(A) overnight. Industrial zones M-1, M-2 and M-3 are held to a flat 77 dB(A) around the clock, with no nighttime step-down. The section also addresses property the planning commission has specifically designated for industrial use on the comprehensive plan: that property is treated as industrial for purposes of the noise table even if it has not yet been rezoned.
Because measurement is keyed to the receiving property, a noise source physically located in an industrial zone must still meet the lower residential figures if the sound crosses into an adjoining residential-zoned parcel. Section 16-10 is enforced the same way as sections 16-8 and 16-9: civilly through code enforcement or criminally through a sheriff's deputy.
Violations & Fines
A first violation carries a civil penalty up to $250.00, and $500.00 for each subsequent offense, under section 16-5, with each day counted separately. Section 16-10 is also criminally enforceable: a deputy sheriff or code enforcement official can pursue a criminal summons, and conviction is a class 3 misdemeanor with a fine up to $500.00, plus a court-ordered abatement deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the noise limit determined for my property?
What's the nighttime noise limit in a Hanover County neighborhood?
Do industrial zones get a higher noise allowance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hanover County
Compare Hanover County to another location·View the Virginia noise ordinances overview
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