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Virginia Beach noise ordinance: quiet hours and who to call

When are quiet hours in Virginia Beach?

Quiet hours
From 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., sound measured inside another person's home can't go over 55 dBA (65 dBA from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.). Construction equipment: not from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Right now

Checking the clock for Virginia Beach.

Who to call
The Virginia Beach Police Department says to call 757-385-3111 for all nuisance calls, including noise complaints. Police non-emergency: 757-385-5000. Inside city limits you can also dial 311 (VB311). Emergencies: 911.
When you can call
The page says the non-emergency number 757-385-5000 is open 24 hours a day. It says to call 757-385-3111 for noise complaints and does not state hours for that number.
The law
Virginia Beach City Code Chapter 23, Article II, Noise (§§ 23-63 to 23-73), and § 5-532 for barking dogs. Read the code

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Virginia Beach's noise rules are Article II of Chapter 23 of the City Code. The barking dog rule is in Chapter 5. The police department enforces the noise article, and a private citizen can also seek a summons from a magistrate (§ 23-65).

What is too loud in Virginia Beach?

The main rule is a decibel limit measured inside the home that receives the noise (§ 23-69). The reading is taken at least 4 feet from the wall nearest the source, with doors and windows closed.

In apartment buildings and mixed-use buildings, police may take readings from another unit or an indoor common area when a resident asks (§ 23-69(c)). Some things are exempt from the daytime limit only, including construction and landscaping (§ 23-69(d)).

The code also has specific rules. Stereos, speakers and instruments can't go over 80 dBA from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., or 75 dBA from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., measured in a public area or from other private property (§ 23-71(d)). Sound from a car stereo can't be audible and discernible 100 feet or more from the car (§ 23-70(c)).

Barking dogs

It is unlawful to let a dog disturb the peace of others "by barking, whining, howling, or crying without provocation in a loud, continuous or untimely manner" (§ 5-532(a)). An animal control or police officer who finds this must first tell the owner, or the person in charge of the property, to control the dog. If that person won't cooperate or can't stop it, the dog may be impounded, and the officer may issue a summons (§ 5-532(b)–(c)). Three or more barking violations in 12 months make the dog a nuisance, and the owner can be ordered to court (§ 5-533(a)–(b)). Chapter 5 violations are Class 4 misdemeanors unless the code says otherwise (§ 5-100).

Construction and yard work

Bulldozers, cranes, jackhammers, pneumatic drills and other construction equipment can't run from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. unless the city manager allows it in writing (§ 23-71(f)). Gardening, lawn care and other landscaping are exempt from the daytime decibel limit (§ 23-69(d)(4)). The article gives no set hours for yard work.

How do I report noise in Virginia Beach?

The Virginia Beach Police Department's contact page says "for all nuisance calls to include noise and fireworks complaints, please call 757-385-3111." It lists the non-emergency number as 757-385-5000, open 24 hours a day. The City's VB311 page says you can dial 311 from inside city limits. For an emergency, call 911.

Fines and penalties

A first violation of the noise article is a Class 3 misdemeanor. A violation within one year after a conviction is a Class 2 misdemeanor (§ 23-66(a)). Under Virginia's misdemeanor law, a Class 3 misdemeanor carries a fine of up to $500. A Class 2 misdemeanor carries up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. A Class 4 misdemeanor carries a fine of up to $250 (Va. Code § 18.2-11). The City can also ask a court to stop an ongoing violation (§ 23-66(c)).

Keeping a noise log

Virginia Beach measures sound inside the home that hears it, so note which room you were in and whether the windows were closed. The Noisy Neighbor iPhone app logs each incident with the date, time, length and an estimated decibel level. It exports a PDF report. Phone readings are estimates, not the sound level meter readings the code calls for (§ 23-68).

Virginia Beach noise FAQ

What are the quiet hours in Virginia Beach?

From 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., sound measured inside another person's home can't go over 55 dBA (65 dBA from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.). Construction equipment: not from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Who do I call about a noisy neighbor in Virginia Beach?

The Virginia Beach Police Department says to call 757-385-3111 for all nuisance calls, including noise complaints. Police non-emergency: 757-385-5000. Inside city limits you can also dial 311 (VB311). Emergencies: 911.

Where are Virginia Beach's noise rules?

Virginia Beach City Code Chapter 23, Article II, Noise (§§ 23-63 to 23-73), and § 5-532 for barking dogs. There is a link to the official code at the top and bottom of this page.

What is the penalty for a noise violation in Virginia Beach?

A first offense is a Class 3 misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $500. A second offense within a year of a conviction is a Class 2 misdemeanor, with up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.

Sources

Last checked . Laws change, so check the official code before you act. This is not legal advice.