Loudoun County, VA Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Codified Ordinances § 654.02(d)(4), (6)
- Muffler standard
- Cross-refs Va. Code §§ 46.2-1047, -1049
- Horn/alarm limit
- 20 consecutive seconds
- Tow trigger
- Alarm sounds 15 min. after officer arrival
- First offense
- Class 3 misdemeanor, up to $500
- Repeat offense
- Escalates to Class 2, then Class 1
Summary
Loudoun County bans tire-spinning, engine-racing and unmuffled exhausts on motor vehicles under its noise ordinance, and caps horn or alarm sounding at 20 consecutive seconds: after that, an unattended vehicle can be towed if the alarm keeps going for 15 minutes once an officer arrives.
The spinning of tires, racing of engines or other noise, or other similar acts in a motor vehicle or motorcycle, as well as the emission of noise created by the absence of a muffler and/or exhaust system conforming to the provisions of Virginia Code §§ 46.2-1047 and 46.2-1049 on a motor vehicle or motorcycle. ... The sounding of any horn or signaling device/alarm ... continuously or intermittently for more than twenty consecutive seconds.
Full Breakdown
" That cross-reference ties the local noise rule directly to the state's equipment standards for mufflers and exhaust systems, so a vehicle out of compliance with state muffler law is also a local noise violation. 02(d)(6) separately bars "sounding of any horn or signaling device/alarm on any motor vehicle, motorcycle, bicycle, or other vehicle on any street or public place of the county, continuously or intermittently for more than twenty consecutive seconds," except as a danger warning or where state law otherwise allows it. If a vehicle alarm keeps sounding continuously for fifteen minutes after a law-enforcement officer arrives and the owner can't be located, that same subsection lets the officer arrange to have the vehicle towed.
Both rules apply on any street or public place countywide and don't require proof of a specific decibel level or distance the way the general amplified-sound provision does.
Violations & Fines
A first violation of § 654.02(d)(4) or (d)(6) is a Class 3 misdemeanor under § 654.99(a), fined up to $500 per offense with each day treated as a separate offense; § 654.02(f)(1) escalates a repeat offense to a Class 2 misdemeanor within six months and a Class 1 misdemeanor within a year of a prior conviction, and an unattended alarm-triggering vehicle can also be towed at the owner's expense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is engine racing or tire spinning illegal in Loudoun County?
How long can a car alarm legally sound in Loudoun County?
Can my car be towed for an alarm going off?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Loudoun County
Compare Loudoun County to another location·View the Virginia noise ordinances overview
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