About the Noise Ordinance
On September 5th, 2023, the Town Council repealed Town Code §§ 92.02 through 92.10, that required an annual permit to operate sound amplifying equipment outdoors within the Town of Occoquan, and replaced it with a new article that governs noise violations.
Permits are no longer required to play amplified sound in the Town of Occoquan. However, the Town Code outlines maximum decibel levels by zoning district. The maximum level for all restaurants is eighty (80) dB(A) during the daytime and sixty (60) dB(A) during the nighttime. All levels are based off a measurement taken from the boundary line of the restaurant property or any public area including, but not limited to, any public streets, docks or sidewalks. See the chart below for an overview of the permissible levels.
Daytime hours are based on the local time of day and include the hours from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays observed by the Town government, unless otherwise specified.
For more details, read the noise ordinance (O-2023-14 Noise Ordinance) or visit www.occoquanva.gov/government/current-town-code-and-charter/.