Albemarle County, VA Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)

2-1049; jackrabbit starts, spinning tires, racing engines or similar acts; and a refrigeration unit mounted on the vehicle. When the vehicle is operated or parked on a street or public property, the sound is unlawful if audible from 100 feet or more away. When it's on private property, the same sound is unlawful if audible either 100 feet or more from the parcel's property line, or from inside a dwelling unit or hotel room, regardless of distance. A separate but related rule, § 7-105(B)(1) and (2), covers sound-reproducing devices such as car stereos within or on a vehicle, using the identical 100-foot, on-street standard and the parcel-line-or-dwelling-unit standard for private property.

Both provisions exempt a vehicle's horn or warning device used as a warning device, including back-up alarms, under § 7-106(R), and § 7-106(Q) separately exempts transient transportation sound, such as ordinary engine and road noise from motor vehicles and motorcycles, except as regulated by § 7-105(A) itself. The Chief of Police administers and enforces the article under § 7-101, with assistance from Community Development staff as needed.