Montgomery County, VA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Montgomery 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
- Governing sections
- County Code §§ 7-72, 7-73, 7-80
- Residential daytime limit
- 57 dB(A), 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Residential nighttime limit
- 52 dB(A), 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Business zone limit
- 67 dB(A) day, 62 dB(A) night
- Industrial zone limit
- 77 dB(A), day and night
- Maximum fine
- Up to $1,000 per day, per offense
Summary
In Montgomery County outside Blacksburg and Christiansburg, Code Sec. 7-80 caps stationary noise sources by zoning district and time of day: in residential and agricultural zones the limit drops from 57 dB(A) between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. to 52 dB(A) overnight, from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Business and industrial zones get higher daytime and nighttime ceilings.
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or permit to be operated any stationary noise source in such a manner as to create a sound pressure level which exceeds the limits set forth in the table below when measured at the property boundary of the noise source or at any point within any other property affected by the noise. When a noise source can be identified and its noise measured in more than one (1) zoning district classification, the limits of the most restrictive classification shall apply: ... Sound Level Limit dB(A) Receiving Land Use 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m. C-1, Residential and Agricultural Zones, A-1, A-2, R-1, R-2, R-3, RM-1, PD-R, PMR 57 52
Full Breakdown
Sec. 7-80, Maximum Permissible Sound Pressure Levels, makes it unlawful to operate or permit the operation of any stationary noise source in a manner that exceeds the limits set in the code's table, measured at the property boundary of the source or at any point on another property affected by the noise; if the source can be measured in more than one zoning district, the most restrictive district's limit governs. m. Business zones GB and CB are capped at 67 dB(A) by day and 62 dB(A) at night, while the industrial zone M-1 is capped at 77 dB(A) around the clock, with no nighttime reduction.
The rule dates to Ord. No. 1-8), adopted January 4, 1982. It functions as the county's quiet-hours mechanism for fixed sources like HVAC equipment, generators, outdoor speakers and industrial machinery, distinct from the audibility standard governing portable devices and animal noise under Sec. 7-77. The county sheriff enforces the article under Sec. 7-73, and Sec. 7-72 sets a fine of up to $1,000, with each day a separate offense. Separately, Sec. 7-79 lets the Board of Supervisors designate an additional "quiet zone" in any area after a public hearing, with its own prescribed noise level.
Violations & Fines
Running a stationary noise source, air conditioning equipment, a generator, or an outdoor speaker system, above the applicable Sec. 7-80 limit for its zoning district and time of day, 52 dB(A) overnight in residential and agricultural zones, for example, violates the ordinance. The sheriff enforces it, and Sec. 7-72 sets a fine of up to $1,000, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Montgomery County's nighttime noise limits for residential areas?
Do commercial and industrial zones have different nighttime limits?
Can the county designate extra quiet zones beyond the standard limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Montgomery County
How Montgomery County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Montgomery County to another location·View the Virginia noise ordinances overview
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