Herndon, VA Short-Term Rentals: Noise Rules (2026)

Noise generated at a Herndon short-term rental is regulated by the town's general noise ordinance in Chapter 26, Article VI of the Herndon Town Code, which is enforced by Herndon Police. Standard residential quiet hours apply at all hours but particularly during the 10 PM to 7 AM nighttime period when amplified sound, loud parties, and similar disturbances are most likely to violate the ordinance. In addition to the general noise rules, the Town Council adopted dedicated short-term rental standards under Zoning Text Amendment ZOTA #18-03 (approved December 2019, effective February 1, 2020) and a parallel Chapter 11 (Short-Term Rental Registration) framework that limits rentals to lodging only and prohibits events, parties, weddings, receptions, and other gatherings beyond the authorized lodgers during any short-term rental period. Operators are limited to a maximum of six adult lodgers per stay, with single rental periods capped at 30 consecutive days and a 90-night annual cap when the entire dwelling is rented. Operators must reside at the property at least seven months per year. Because the town's ordinance is more restrictive than Fairfax County's STR rules and because Fairfax County's STR ordinance expressly does not apply to the incorporated towns of Clifton, Herndon, and Vienna, only the Herndon-specific framework controls. Repeated noise complaints can lead to citations under Chapter 26 and parallel zoning enforcement under Chapter 78 / Chapter 11, including loss of the STR registration. Herndon also sits directly under Washington Dulles International Airport flight paths, so background aircraft noise is unavoidable but is federally regulated by the FAA and not enforceable through the town's STR program.