Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Noise Ordinance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Middlesex supervisors adopt new noise ordinance after public hearing
Summary
After a public hearing in Middlesex County, supervisors adopted a distance-based noise ordinance with night-time limits and an animal-noise provision; board members said the measure restores enforceability after a state court ruling rendered the prior local law ineffective.
Middlesex County supervisors voted to adopt a new noise-control ordinance following a public hearing in which residents described persistent dog-barking and early-morning truck noise.
The County Attorney told the board the county's previous noise rules were effectively unenforceable after a Virginia Beach court challenge and recommended a distance-based approach rather than sound-meter readings to avoid certification and calibration issues for enforcement officers. "We were going from virtually having nothing to support us ... to now have something that has some teeth," a board member said during debate.
Residents urged stronger enforcement. "I have 44 consecutive days ... there were 162 barking incidents," Mark Pantalescu told the board, describing sleep disruption and a rise in his blood pressure. The county attorney noted the draft makes animal noise a chargeable offense when it is "plainly audible" across a residential boundary for a defined period and said prosecution would remain complaint-driven.
During discussion, board members and staff said some items raised by the public — including kennel permit conditions and school-refuse schedules — may be better addressed in zoning or contract discussions rather than in the noise ordinance itself. After discussion, Mr. Jesse moved to adopt the ordinance, Mr. Crittendon seconded, and the board approved the measure by roll call. The board instructed staff to research related zoning and permit options and to return with recommendations if the ordinance proves inadequate.
The ordinance includes night-time restrictions (10 PM–7 AM for certain activities), a 100-foot distance threshold for refuse-collection operations near residences, and a specific animal-noise test (plainly audible across a residential boundary or at 50 feet or more for repeated intervals). The county attorney said the existing penalty is a Class 3 misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $500 and that the board can revisit penalties after observing how the ordinance works.
