Roanoke County, VA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (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.
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?
Can I fix my car in the driveway at night?
What happens on a second noise violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Roanoke County
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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