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

' Rather than setting a separate decibel or hours standard for rentals, the section cross-references chapter 28's existing noise prohibitions, so whatever conduct is unlawful noise anywhere else in the city is equally unlawful at a short-term rental. The rule sits next to a companion ban in subsection (6), which prohibits commercial gatherings including luncheons, banquets, parties, weddings, charitable fund-raising or other gatherings for direct or indirect compensation at a short-term rental, closing off the loud-party business model entirely rather than just capping decibels. 1 through the annual certificate of zoning compliance process, and can also act on a chapter 28 noise complaint independently of any zoning proceeding.

Because a short-term rental must also maintain a guest log open to inspection under (b)(13), a pattern of noise complaints tied to the same address gives the zoning administrator a documented basis to build a violation history against the property's certificate, separate from any chapter 28 citation issued to whoever was actually making the noise that night.