Chesterfield County, VA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Chesterfield 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
- Core quiet hours
- 12:01 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Standard
- Plainly audible, not decibels
- Distance trigger
- 50+ feet from device
- Fine range
- $100 to $500
- Code section
- Chesterfield County Code 14-27
Summary
Chesterfield County's noise ordinance targets sound that is 'plainly audible' from inside a neighbor's home or at 50+ feet, particularly during the hours of 12:01 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. No decibel meter is required to prove a violation.
It shall be unlawful for any person to use, operate or play any radio ... loudspeaker, sound amplifier or other machine or device capable of producing or reproducing sound in such a manner or with such volume or duration that it is plainly audible, particularly during the hours between 12:01 a.m. and 7:00 a.m., ... at fifty (50) or more feet from the device.
Full Breakdown
Section 14-27(a) of the Chesterfield County Code makes it unlawful to operate any radio, TV, loudspeaker, sound amplifier, musical instrument or similar device so that it is 'plainly audible' either inside another person's dwelling or at 50 or more feet from the device, particularly between 12:01 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. The ordinance was amended and re-enacted 9/23/09 after Virginia's 2009 noise-preemption ruling, replacing the old decibel/'unreasonably loud' language with the plainly-audible standard. Exceptions cover public parks, sporting events, school activities and authorized parades. Chesterfield County (Virginia, Richmond suburb) governs its whole territory; the independent cities of Richmond, Colonial Heights and Petersburg have their own codes.
Violations & Fines
A violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 per Sec. 14-27(h).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do quiet hours use a decibel limit?
Who enforces the noise ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chesterfield County
How Chesterfield County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Chesterfield County to another location·View the Virginia noise ordinances overview
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