Richmond wants you to pay for being loud

Richmond City Council wants to make sure you're getting fined for making too much noise.

Why it matters: It's taken years for the city to figure out how to enforce violations.

Driving the news: On Monday night, City Council voted to amend the sound ordinance in three main ways.

1. Outlining that residents can only report alleged violations by verbally telling an officer or calling the non-emergency line at 804-646-5100.
2. Removing violations that are difficult for police to enforce, like moving cars or motorcycles exceeding certain decibel levels.
3. Giving people 15 days to pay the fines listed on the violation notice and specifying that failure to pay within 15 days will result in the city issuing a warrant in debt.

Catch up quick: In November 2022 , City Council voted to swap the noise ordinance's criminal penalties (the first offense carried a six-month jail sentence) to civil fines.

• The first violation is $100. If another violation happens within a week of the first, it's a $200 fine, and a third within two weeks is $500.

Yes, but: In November 2023, Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards told a council committee that collecting those fines and tracking repeat violations has been challenging.

• The sound ordinance initially didn't include a way for them to do it, unlike parking tickets.
• The money from the fines would go toward the general fund, which includes roads, schools and parks.

What's next: There's another noise ordinance change up at the Sept. 9 council meeting that would ban the city from collecting trash before 7am.

• They can currently be out and about at 5am, which some council members say has led to resident complaints.

What counts as a violation

🐶 Animals:

• Any animal making audible noises for 10 minutes straight.

🤹 Buskers:

• 7am-11pm: noise above 75 decibels, or a vacuum cleaner .
• 11pm-7am: noise above 65 decibels, which is normal conversation.

🏠 Homes, places of worship, health care facilities and restaurants near residential neighborhoods:

• 7am-11pm: sounds above 65 decibels.
• 11pm-7am: sounds above 55 decibels, or a household refrigerator.

🍽️ Restaurants not near residential neighborhoods:

• 7am-11pm: noise above 80 decibels, or an alarm clock .
• 11pm-7am: noise above 75 decibels.

📚 When school is in session:

• Noises exceeding 65 decibels.

Go deeper: Mayor's proposed noise rules target abortion protests .