Rockbridge County narrows weekday noise curfew for most events; nonprofits retain later cutoff

The Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors approved an amendment to the county noise ordinance on Oct. 14, 2025, moving the start of the weekday quiet period from 11 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday for most organizations while preserving the later start for registered charitable nonprofits.

The ordinance change amends Chapter 4, Article 4, Section 4-43 of the Rockbridge County Code. Under the adopted language, the county’s prohibitions on loud noises will begin at 10 p.m. and run through 8 a.m. the following day Sunday through Thursday for most organizations. The existing 11:59 p.m. weekday cutoff remains for organizations designated as charitable under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c), which the board exempted from the new earlier start time.

The change followed a public comment period and a board discussion that included residents who said nighttime noise has been persistent near neighborhoods close to the university. “In the seven weeks that W. and L. has been back, there have been eight weeknight parties,” said Houston Johnson, of Cursed Creek, who identified himself as liaison to the Woodridge Homeowners Association and the Campus Community Coalition. He said the noise “affects well over 100 county residents on a weekly basis” and urged the supervisors to “think seriously about the potential positive ramifications” of the amendment.

Chuck Smith of Lexington, representing Lime County Theater, addressed the board briefly to thank supervisors for considering the change.

County staff and the county attorney presented the amended language and noted an editorial correction in the proposed text: an intended reference to 11:59 p.m. (just before midnight) had been misread aloud earlier as 10:59. The board clarified the ordinance retains the midnight-adjacent timing for weekends and for the nonprofit exception.

Supervisor Lyons moved to approve the ordinance with changes prepared by county counsel. The motion carried 3–2 with Supervisors Lyons, Day and Chair Ayers voting yes and Supervisors McDaniel and Lewis voting no.

The board’s adopted ordinance includes the nonprofit exception, applies the earlier start time to noncharitable organizations Sunday–Thursday, and preserves the existing weekend timeframe. The county attorney said the board may postpone further action if it chooses; supervisors voted instead to adopt the change.

The amended ordinance will be codified in Chapter 4, Article 4, Section 4-43 of the Rockbridge County Code. Staff did not provide an effective date in the meeting; implementation steps and enforcement details were not specified during the session.