Prince William County Code § 14-4 caps industrial-zone noise at 79 dBA daytime and 72 dBA nighttime (Leq). A separate steady-tonal-sound rule limits droning noise (HVAC, transformers, data centers) in residential zones to 73 dB(C) daytime and 68 dB(C) nighttime, effective May 1, 2026.
Industrial sources are subject to the § 14-4 Table 1 limits of 79 dBA daytime / 72 nighttime, measured at the property boundary; where the source affects a more restrictive zone, that zone's lower limit applies. The re-enacted ordinance also adds a 'steady tonal sound' standard (§ 14-4(b)) aimed at droning hums from air-conditioning units, refrigeration, transformers, backup generators and data centers: at a residential property line such C-weighted noise may not exceed 73 dB(C) daytime or 68 dB(C) nighttime over a five-minute interval. County Property Code Enforcement handles steady tonal noise complaints as of May 1, 2026.
Violations are Class 4 misdemeanors (first offense) or Class 3 within 365 days. The $250/$500 civil-penalty option does not apply to noise from business on industrial property or railroads.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Prince William County's industrial noise rules stack up against other locations.
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