Hampton, VA Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Audibility threshold
- 50 feet
- Exhaust noise fine
- up to $250
- Repeat stereo noise fine
- up to $2,500
- Enforced by
- Hampton Police Department
Summary
Hampton bans vehicles with cut-out mufflers, straight exhaust, or amplified stereo sound that's audible 50 feet away, backed by Virginia's statewide exhaust-noise statutes.
It shall be unlawful for any person operating a vehicle within the city which either 1) is equipped with a gutted muffler, muffler cutout, or straight exhaust in violation of Virginia Code § 46.2-1047, or (2) which is not equipped with an exhaust system in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise levels in violation of Virginia Code § 46.2-1049, to create in the operation thereof any sound that is audible and discernable at a distance of 50 feet.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 31 | Zoning: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
Under City Code § 22-8, operating a vehicle in Hampton with a gutted muffler, muffler cutout, or straight exhaust, or a faulty exhaust system, that creates noise audible and discernible at 50 feet is a traffic offense, citing Va. Code §§ 46.2-1047 and 46.2-1049. Separately, § 22-9(7) bars playing a car stereo or amplifier loud enough to be plainly audible from outside the vehicle at 50 feet or more, with an exception for ice cream trucks between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Violations & Fines
Excessive exhaust noise (§ 22-8) is a traffic offense, fine up to $250. Amplified vehicle sound (§ 22-9(7)) is a misdemeanor: up to $500 first offense, $1,000 for a second within 5 years, $2,500 for a third within 10 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a loud car stereo illegal in Hampton?
What about a cut-out or straight-pipe muffler?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hampton
Compare Hampton to another location·View the Virginia noise ordinances overview
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