Chesterfield’s Board of Supervisors voted last week to enact a new noise ordinance. The Virginia Supreme Court had ruled that Chesterfield’s previous ordinance, much like that of Virginia Beach, was too general and invalidated the county’s noise law. The police department has not enforced the noise ordinance since the spring.

The new ordinance fixed the problems with the old ordinance and added a few new items, including rules on noise from parties, eliminating restrictions on noises from farm animals, and setting a fine starting at $100 with a maximum of $500.

The county’s new noise ordinance restricts noise in residential areas due to lawn maintenance from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.; trash and recycling pickup is restricted between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.; and music from vehicles should not be heard more than 50 feet away.

Noise from pets or other animals should not be heard inside another person’s home or from 50 feet away for 10 consecutive minutes. The rule for music or television noise is similar; it must not be heard in another person’s home or from 50 feet from the device between midnight and 7 a.m.

Ten or more people gathered at one home between midnight and 7 a.m. must not make enough noise to be heard 50 away or in another person’s home.

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