Noise Ordinance

The City of Virginia Beach is inviting the public to share their opinions on the proposed amendments to the noise ordinance. Key changes in the noise ordinance include plainly audible standard, amplified sound enforcement, and criminal and civil penalties.  

Under the proposed ordinance:

• It is a violation if noise is simply audible and can be heard from 50 ft. away from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
• Civil penalties shall apply for specific prohibitions based on “plainly audible standard,” while criminal penalties is for noise over certain dBA inside a dwelling unit or in a public area
• Plainly audible standard means any sound that can be heard by the human ear with or without a medically approved hearing aid or device. 

Full details can be found online at www.vbgov.com/noise.

A video of the presentation to City Council can be found below. The noise ordinance presentation begins at the 20:27 mark.