Arlington County, VA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Arlington County, VA, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Nighttime hours (weekdays)
- 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Nighttime hours (weekends/holidays)
- 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m.
- Lawn/garden equipment
- Barred countywide during Nighttime
- Refuse collection
- Barred during Nighttime (§15-6.H)
- Criminal penalty
- $100-$2,500 fine or up to 30 days jail
- Civil penalty
- $250 first offense, $500 repeat
Summary
Arlington County's Noise Control Ordinance defines "Nighttime" as everything outside "Daytime" hours (7 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekends and legal holidays), and bars specific noisy activities during that window regardless of decibel level, including motorized lawn and garden maintenance, refuse collection, and outcry selling. The County Manager enforces the curfew under Chapter 15, with criminal and civil penalties for violations.
“Daytime” means the local time of day between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on weekdays and between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on a Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday. ... “Nighttime” means those times of day not included in the definition of "Daytime."
Full Breakdown
on weekends. During Nighttime, § 15-6 makes several acts unlawful without regard to how loud they measure: subsection D bars selling anything by outcry, subsection H bars collecting refuse with a refuse vehicle, and subsection J bars performing lawn or garden maintenance with motorized equipment. Subsection K goes further in "R" residential zoning districts, banning motorized leaf-blowing devices during Nighttime specifically, on top of the countywide, all-hours ban on gas-powered leaf blowers added under subsection Q. in Mixed-Use Districts under subsection N. Residential zoning districts also carry a lower numeric Nighttime ceiling under Table I, 55 dBA continuous and 90 dB impulsive, versus 60 dBA and 95 dB in the Daytime.
The County Manager administers and enforces the chapter under § 15-4 and may inspect premises under § 15-8 after a complaint or as part of a noise survey program.
Violations & Fines
Violating any Nighttime prohibition can be charged as a misdemeanor under § 15-9: a fine of $100 to $2,500, up to 30 days in the Arlington County jail, or both, with each calendar day a separate offense. The County Manager may instead issue a civil citation under § 15-10: up to $250 for a first violation and $500 for each later one, with every hour the violation continues counted separately; civil fines are payable to the County Treasurer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as "Nighttime" under Arlington County's noise ordinance?
Can I mow my lawn or run a leaf blower at night in Arlington County?
What happens if I violate the Nighttime noise rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arlington County
How Arlington County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Arlington County to another location·View the Virginia noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.