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Leesburg council weighs decibel limits for outdoor amplified music; plans public hearing and expert review
Summary
Councilors debated proposed changes to Leesburg’s noise ordinance, including a potential decibel limit for amplified outdoor music, and directed staff to prepare a motion to receive public input tomorrow and then possibly table the item while the town seeks a sound expert and measurement options.
Councilors discussed a proposed change to Leesburg’s noise ordinance to address outdoor amplified music and debated whether to set a decibel limit and how to measure compliance.
Town staff said the current town ordinance is modeled on Loudoun County’s standard and enforces a “plainly audible at 100 feet” rule. Staff proposed a possible decibel range based on benchmarking with nearby Northern Virginia jurisdictions: “60 to 75 seemed to be where most of them landed,” the staff member said, noting Alexandria, Arlington and Fairfax county approaches vary by zone.
Several councilors and staff raised concerns about how decibel figures are measured and where measurements should be taken. A staff member explained many published charts report noise at the source and not at a defined right-of-way measurement point, and said officers should be able to take objective readings from a defined location without entering private premises.
Councilmember Macy and others urged hiring a sound expert to advise the council on an appropriate decibel standard and measurement protocol. One councilor proposed renting or borrowing a decibel meter so staff and the Leesburg Police Department could take sample readings before adopting a numeric limit.
Given public interest, the council agreed to proceed with the public hearing on the noise ordinance at tomorrow’s meeting and instructed staff to prepare a motion that would allow the council to table the item following public comment while the town obtains expert advice and measurement equipment. Several councilors said they would support that approach tomorrow; staff said they would prepare the necessary motion.
The town attorney cautioned that Leesburg’s existing ordinance is enforceable and not invalid under state law; staff framed the proposed changes as aimed at giving businesses and enforcement clearer, objective tools (permits and measurement points) rather than removing enforcement authority.
