Suffolk, VA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Suffolk, VA, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Standard
- Plainly audible / 50 feet
- Night window
- 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.
- Penalty
- Class 2 misdemeanor
- Code
- City Code Sec. 34-189
- Decibel limit
- None set
Summary
Suffolk uses a plainly-audible standard, not decibels. Under City Code Chapter 34, Article VI, sound heard across a residential property line or 50 feet from its source is excessive noise, a Class 2 misdemeanor. Amplified and vocal noise is barred 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.
It shall be a class 2 misdemeanor and a public nuisance for any person to willfully make, permit, continue or cause to be made, permitted or continued any excessive noise.
Full Breakdown
Suffolk's noise rule sits in Chapter 34, Article VI (Sections 34-186 through 34-190). Section 34-188 makes any excessive noise a Class 2 misdemeanor and a public nuisance. Section 34-189 sets the specifics: radios, instruments, and amplified devices that are plainly audible across a residential boundary or 50 feet from the source are prohibited at any hour, while yelling, shouting, singing, and loudspeaker use are barred between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. There are no citywide decibel limits; enforcement turns on whether the sound is plainly audible. Suffolk police respond to complaints.
Violations & Fines
A violation of Section 34-188 is a Class 2 misdemeanor and public nuisance, punishable under Virginia law by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Suffolk's quiet hours?
Does Suffolk use a decibel limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Suffolk
How Suffolk compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Suffolk to another location·View the Virginia noise ordinances overview
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