It's About To Get Really Noisy In Fairfax County

Life is about to get a lot noisier in Fairfax County. The County’s Department of Planning and Zoning is asking the Board of Supervisors to approve raising the maximum noise level for the use of loudspeakers and related noise from recreation grounds, parks, and school fields from 55 decibels (dBA) to 72 decibels between the hours of 7:00AM and 10:00PM weekdays and 9:00AM and 11:00PM on weekends and Federal holidays. While that may not sound like much, because sound is measured on a logarithmic scale the proposed 17-decibel jump is actually a perceived by human hearing as almost four times as loud as the current 55-decibel limit. To give you a sense of just how loud that will be try having a normal conversation while running your household blender.

Earlier this month, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Development Committee met to discuss long running complaints about rising noise levels across the County and to consider proposals for revising the Fairfax County Noise Ordinances. A zoning inspection at McLean High School in October 2014 clearly demonstrated the school was in violation of existing noise ordinances. What’s the proposed solution? County staff is calling for a new 72dBA noise limit so schools are not automatically in violation. Why not enforce the current law and insist that County schools comply?

While most homeowners living near Fairfax County golf courses, parks, recreational fields and schools co-exist peacefully with cheering crowds, band practices, live performances, crowded streets, the occasional blocked driveway, and trampling of lawns, the addition of amplified music blaring through loudspeakers at all hours of the day and into much of the night has created a noise pollution problem that disrupts normal family routines and impacts the quality of life. Many families find it impossible to enjoy their backyard because amplified music emanating from recreational parks and school fields is so loud it drowns out normal conversation. Add in the explicit, vulgar, or overly sexualized lyrics so popular in today’s music blaring from loudspeakers and well outdoor family time is over.

For people seeking quiet enjoyment of County parks, schools, and public recreational fields, the newly proposed ordinance means other users of those facilities will be able to broadcast recorded music, use bullhorns, play live music, and whatever else they wish as long as they do not exceed 72 decibels at the property line. Since sound waves don’t know to stop at the property line, wind conditions, placement of loud speakers and uncontrolled amplification will all conspire to make the proposed 72 decibel level excessively loud.

The addition of the Metro Silver Line, expanded express lanes on the Beltway, overhead airplane noise from growth of air travel, daily military, police and medical helicopters flights, sirens, and traffic at most hours of the day and night all add exponentially to the noise pollution of daily life in Fairfax County. Since by their own admission, County Government and the County Police have little success enforcing the existing 55 decibel noise ordinance, perhaps increasing the thresholds is just County Government’s way of saying, “we give up.” Clearer minds should prevail. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is expected to hold a public hearing on the newly proposed noise ordinance in May.

If you’d like to avoid turning your neighborhood into the next concert venue, you may want to express your concerns to your District Supervisor and plan to attend the Public Hearing to let your voice be heard.