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Roanoke County, VA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Quiet hours in Roanoke 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

Curfew hours
10:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m.
First offense
Class 3 misdemeanor
Repeat offense (1 yr)
Class 2 misdemeanor
Waiver
Board of supervisors, § 13-23
Governing article
Chapter 13, Article II

Summary

Roanoke County's noise ordinance runs a general 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. curfew across a list of specific activities in § 13-21, including repairing or rebuilding a motor vehicle loudly enough to be plainly audible fifty feet away. Violating any clause of the article is a Class 3 misdemeanor under § 13-22, rising to a Class 2 misdemeanor for a repeat offense within a year.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Roanoke County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

The following acts are declared to be noise disturbances in violation of this article unless specifically excepted in section 13-19. ... (2)Repairing, rebuilding or modifying any motor vehicle or other mechanical equipment or device between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day in a manner so as to be plainly audible at a distance of fifty (50) feet or more from the vehicle.

Full Breakdown

the following day. Clause (2) bars repairing, rebuilding or modifying a motor vehicle or other mechanical equipment during those hours if the work is plainly audible fifty feet or more from the vehicle; the same curfew window also covers construction equipment, outdoor truck loading within 100 yards of a home, exterior loudspeakers, and trash collection vehicles. 'Plainly audible' is defined in § 13-18 as any sound a person can hear clearly with unaided hearing, and for music includes detecting rhythmic bass tones through a wall.

m. Enforcement runs through the police department; under § 13-22 a first violation of any clause in the article is a Class 3 misdemeanor, each day a violation continues is a separate offense, and a second violation within one year of a prior conviction is a Class 2 misdemeanor. A property owner, tenant or manager present when the noise occurs is presumed to be operating or controlling the source if the actual operator cannot be identified. Anyone facing hardship can ask the board of supervisors for a waiver under § 13-23, valid up to one year and renewable.

Violations & Fines

A first violation of any clause in § 13-21, including the overnight vehicle-repair rule, is a Class 3 misdemeanor under § 13-22(a). A second violation within one year of a prior conviction under the article becomes a Class 2 misdemeanor. Each separate act, and each day a violation continues unabated, counts as a separate offense. The county can also seek a circuit court injunction against a continuing violation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hours does Roanoke County's noise curfew cover?
Most of the specific noise-disturbance clauses in § 13-21, including nighttime vehicle repair, exterior loudspeakers and outdoor truck loading, run from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. the following day. Activity outside those hours can still violate other parts of the ordinance if it meets a separate standard.
Can I fix my car in the driveway at night?
Not if the work is plainly audible fifty feet or more from the vehicle between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Section 13-21(2) makes that a noise disturbance, punishable as a Class 3 misdemeanor on a first offense under § 13-22.
What happens on a second noise violation?
Section 13-22(a) makes a second violation of Chapter 13, Article II within one year of a prior conviction a Class 2 misdemeanor, a step up from the Class 3 misdemeanor charged for a first offense.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Roanoke County

All Roanoke County rules

How Roanoke County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Roanoke County to another location·View the Virginia noise ordinances overview

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