Chesterfield County, VA Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Sound-system trigger
- Plainly audible at 50+ feet
- Exemptions
- Sirens, alarms, public-safety radios
- County section
- Chesterfield County Code 14-27(e)
- Muffler law
- Va. Code 46.2-1050
- Fine range
- $100 to $500
Summary
Chesterfield County bans playing a vehicle's radio or sound system so it is plainly audible 50 or more feet from the car. Loud exhaust is separately governed by Virginia's statewide muffler law.
[It shall be unlawful for any person] to play or permit the playing of any radio, stereo, tape player, compact disc player, loud speaker or other electronic device or mechanical equipment used for the amplification of sound, which is located within a motor vehicle and which is plainly audible from outside the motor vehicle at a distance of 50 feet or more from the vehicle.
Full Breakdown
Section 14-27(e) of the Chesterfield County Code makes it unlawful to play amplified sound from a radio, stereo, compact-disc player, loudspeaker or other equipment located within a motor vehicle when it is plainly audible from outside the vehicle at a distance of 50 feet or more. Public-safety sirens, communications radios and vehicle security alarms are exempt. County Code Sec. 13-15 also addresses unnecessary vehicle noise, including loudspeakers used to advertise. Exhaust and muffler noise is controlled statewide by the Code of Virginia Sec. 46.2-1050, which requires every motor vehicle to have a muffler in good working order that prevents excessive or unusual noise; illegal-noise 'cutout' exhausts are prohibited.
Violations & Fines
A vehicle sound-system violation is a misdemeanor with a $100 to $500 fine under Sec. 14-27(h); muffler violations are traffic offenses under state law.
Frequently Asked Questions
How loud is too loud for a car stereo?
What about loud exhaust or a broken muffler?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chesterfield County
Compare Chesterfield County to another location·View the Virginia noise ordinances overview
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