Norfolk, VA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Norfolk, VA, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- General curfew window
- 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Daytime distance (audio)
- 100 feet, Sec. 26-6(a)(2)
- Nighttime distance (audio)
- 50 feet, Sec. 26-6(a)(2)
- Yelling threshold at night
- 50 feet, Sec. 26-6(a)(5)
- Penalty
- Class 3 misdemeanor, up to $500
Summary
Norfolk's general noise curfew runs from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.: under Sec. 26-6(a)(2), any audio player or similar device that is plainly audible 100 feet away during the day drops to a 50-foot threshold at night, and yelling or shouting under Sec. 26-6(a)(5) becomes a per se offense at 50 feet in that same window.
(2)Audio players, musical instruments, and similar devices. Operating, playing or permitting the operation or playing of any audio player, musical instrument, or any device capable of producing or reproducing sound in such a manner or with such volume or physically perceptible vibrations that it is plainly audible (i) inside the confines of another person's enclosed dwelling unit or enclosed vehicle; or (ii) at a distance of 100 or more feet in any direction from the operator between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.; or (iii) at a distance of 50 or more feet in any direction from the operator between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 166).
Full Breakdown
curfew is built into several per se offenses in Sec. 26-6(a). The clearest general rule is Sec. , cutting the tolerated distance in half overnight. window governs yelling, shouting, whistling, or singing plainly audible at 50 feet under Sec. 26-6(a)(5), amplified sound under Sec. 26-6(a)(3), construction equipment under Sec. 26-6(a)(7), social gatherings under Sec. 26-6(a)(6), and lawn care and landscaping noise under Sec. 26-6(a)(9). All of these per se offenses remain subject to the Sec. 26-5 exemptions, meaning emergency work, generators during outages, and FAA-jurisdiction aircraft stay lawful at any hour.
The "plainly audible" trigger is defined in Sec. 26-2 to include rhythmic bass tones without discernible words, so officers do not need a sound meter to enforce the nighttime window; the scientific-measurement path exists separately under Sec. 26-6(c).
Violations & Fines
Any per se nighttime noise offense under Sec. 26-6(a), including the audio-player and yelling provisions, is a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500 under Sec. 26-4(a), with a restraining order or injunction available as an added nuisance-abatement remedy under Sec. 26-4(b).
Frequently Asked Questions
What hours count as 'quiet hours' in Norfolk?
Does the nighttime rule apply to something like talking loudly outside?
Is a decibel meter needed to enforce nighttime quiet hours?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Norfolk
How Norfolk compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Norfolk to another location·View the Virginia noise ordinances overview
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