Norfolk, VA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential daytime limit
- 57 dB(A), 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
- Residential nighttime limit
- 52 dB(A), 10 p.m.-7 a.m.
- Industrial limit
- 77 dB(A) at all hours
- Commercial Base limit
- 67 dB(A) day, 62 dB(A) night
- Measured from
- At least 50 feet from source
- Ambient allowance
- Up to 10 dB over ambient
- Code section
- § 26-6(c), Table II
Summary
Norfolk caps ambient sound by zoning district under Table II of City Code § 26-6(c). Residential and most special-purpose districts top out at 57 dB(A) daytime and 52 dB(A) overnight, while industrial zones allow up to 77 dB(A) around the clock; measured sound may exceed ambient by no more than 10 decibels.
(c)Offenses requiring scientific measurement of sound levels. Any noise not listed as an exemption or prohibited act in this subsection, that exceeds the maximum sound pressure level in Table II below is a violation of this chapter. Where the ambient noise level exceeds the maximum sound pressure levels, the noise complained of is permitted to exceed the ambient level by ten (10) decibels but no more. TABLE II: MAXIMUM SOUND PRESSURE LEVELS Receiving Land Use Base Category in Norfolk Zoning Ordinance Sound Level Limit db(A) 7:00 a.m. — 10:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m. — 7:00 a.m. Residential Base; Historic and Cultural Conservation Base; and Special Purpose Districts: IN, IN-C, UV, EBH, G-1, TOD-C, and TOD-S 57 52 ... Industrial Base 77 77
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 166).
Full Breakdown
Section 26-6(c) covers noise not already a per se offense elsewhere in the chapter: it becomes a violation only if it exceeds the maximum sound pressure level set for the receiving zoning district in Table II, and even where ambient noise already runs high, a complained-of sound may exceed that ambient level by no more than 10 decibels. and 52 dB(A) overnight; Commercial Base and most Downtown districts at 67/62 dB(A); Downtown D-MU, D-FN, D-SP and Commercial C-N at 67/52 dB(A); and Industrial Base at a flat 77 dB(A) both day and night.
Measurement is strictly procedural under § 26-6(c)(1): a sound level meter used at least 50 feet from the source, calibrated within the past 12 months, operated by someone who issues a sworn certificate naming the accused, the location, the receiving zoning district, the ambient level, the date and time, and the decibel reading, all admissible in court as evidence of the violation.
Violations & Fines
Any noise source measured by a calibrated sound level meter above the zoning district's Table II limit, more than 10 decibels over ambient, violates § 26-6(c). The base penalty is a Class 3 misdemeanor with a fine up to $500 under § 26-4(a); the operator's sworn certificate and calibration record are admissible in court as evidence of the reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the maximum noise level allowed in a Norfolk residential neighborhood at night?
How is noise measured for a Norfolk decibel violation?
Are industrial areas held to the same noise limit as homes?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Norfolk
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