Quiet hours in Prince William County, VA — also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time — define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Prince William County Code Ch. 14 sets nighttime (10 p.m.-6 a.m. for people) rules and decibel caps. Under the re-enacted ordinance (eff. May 1, 2026), residential zones are limited to 60 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime. Daytime is 7 a.m.-10 p.m. weekdays.
The county's noise ordinance (Ch. 14, re-enacted by Ord. No. 25-62 effective May 1, 2026 after the 2009 Virginia Supreme Court Tanner ruling struck the old 'plainly audible' standard) uses measured decibel limits rather than a blanket curfew. 'Daytime' is 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on weekends and legal holidays; 'nighttime' is all other hours. Residential-zone limits are 60 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime, measured at the property boundary. Human shouting, yelling or singing audible across property lines is separately prohibited between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
A first violation is a Class 4 misdemeanor; a repeat within 365 days is a Class 3 misdemeanor. In lieu of criminal charges, a civil penalty up to $250 (first) or $500 (second) may apply.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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