The Richmond, VA noise ordinance sets decibel limits that vary by property type and time of day, restricts certain activities like construction and trash pickup to specific hours, and treats violations as civil offenses with fines that start at $100 and rise to $500 for repeat offenses. Daytime runs from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.; nighttime covers 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.1Municode Library. Richmond Code of Ordinances – Sound Control – Section: Sec. 11-20. Definitions The current framework comes from Ordinance 2024-194, which replaced criminal penalties with a civil fine system.
Decibel Limits by Property Type
Richmond does not use one citywide noise cap. The threshold depends on what kind of property is receiving the sound.
Single-family homes and duplexes are limited to 65 dBA during the day and 55 dBA at night, measured from any point on the property containing the home. Multifamily buildings such as apartments and condos use the same 65/55 dBA thresholds, but the reading is taken inside the unit, at least four feet from the wall, ceiling, or floor closest to the sound source, with doors and windows closed. Hotels, motels, and lodging houses are not treated as multifamily for this purpose.2Richmond City Council. ORD. 2024-194
Restaurants and bars that are not adjacent to residential neighborhoods have more room: 80 dBA during the day and 75 dBA at night. A restaurant located near a residential area drops back to the 65/55 dBA limits that apply to homes. Places of worship and healthcare facilities near residential zones follow the residential thresholds as well.
Restricted Hours for Specific Activities
Some activities are regulated by clock time in addition to volume. An activity can violate the ordinance either by exceeding its dBA cap or by happening outside its permitted window.
Construction, Power Tools, and Lawn Equipment
Standard construction is permitted from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Work outside that window requires written authorization from the city’s chief administrative officer. Domestic power tools and lawn equipment follow the same 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. schedule and must have working mufflers. A leaf blower running at 9:30 p.m. is a violation even though general nighttime quiet hours have not started.
Trash and Refuse Collection
Commercial refuse collection is limited to 7:00 a.m. through 11:00 p.m. The city council added this cap in September 2024 after resident complaints about routes that began as early as 4:00 a.m. The chief administrative officer can grant written exceptions for health or safety reasons, but routine pre-7:00 a.m. pickup is no longer allowed.3Axios. Richmond Stops Early Trash Pickup After Noise Complaints
Vehicle Audio
Sound from car stereos or other vehicle-mounted amplification is prohibited when it is plainly audible at 50 feet or more from the vehicle. This test applies at all hours and does not require a decibel meter.
Animal Noise
Continuous noise from animals is a violation. A dog that barks nonstop where neighbors can hear it can put its owner on the hook. The ordinance does not set an exact duration threshold, so enforcement involves judgment about what counts as a sustained disturbance.
Exemptions
Emergency signaling devices, including sirens on police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances, are exempt. The chief administrative officer can authorize activities outside normal hours when health or safety justify it.3Axios. Richmond Stops Early Trash Pickup After Noise Complaints City-sanctioned events with proper permits and federally regulated aircraft operations also fall outside local enforcement. The full exemption list is in Chapter 11, Article II of the Richmond City Code.
How To Report a Violation
Richmond requires a resident complaint before officers act. A police officer cannot start a citation just by driving past and hearing loud music.
You have two options: flag down an officer in the area, or call the Richmond Police non-emergency line at (804) 646-5100. Give the dispatcher the specific street address of the source, describe the type of sound, and note how long it has been going on. For recurring problems that are not an active disturbance, RVA 311 handles general non-emergency service requests; active complaints go through the police non-emergency line.
Fines for Violations
Since November 2022, noise violations in Richmond have been civil offenses rather than criminal ones, and the 2024 overhaul kept that structure. The fines escalate with repetition:
- First violation: $100
- Second violation within seven days: $200
- Third or subsequent violation within 14 days of the first: $500
If a fine is not paid within 15 days, the city issues a warrant in debt to collect. Older city resources still reference the previous Class 2 misdemeanor penalty of up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine; that framework no longer applies to noise violations.2Richmond City Council. ORD. 2024-194