The James McCoart Building at the Prince William County Government Center. [Photo by Uriah Kiser/Potomac Local News]The Prince William Board of County Supervisors unanimously approved an amendment to the existing noise ordinance on Tuesday.
The noise ordinance has been in place for many years but has been undergoing review since July 2022. According to county documents, in January 2023, county staff recommended the Board reconsider County Code Section 14-4(b), which places fewer restrictions on residential heating and cooling systems (HVAC) at night. This was approved in February 2023.
The code's text ensures HVAC systems serving a residential building will not be subject to maximum nighttime sound level limits. This is meant to prevent non-residential buildings from doing the same.
The staff recommendation also included a "sunset clause" that was set to expire on Feb. 28, 2024, but was delayed until Tuesday in a January 2024 decision. The Board again extended the clause and its impacts until Feb. 18, 2026, at the recent meeting.
A sunset clause stipulates that a law is no longer effective after a specified date unless a legislative body takes further action.
"The extension of the sunset clause will provide county staff the time needed to assess the noise impacts associated with data centers and develop recommended changes to the noise ordinance for the Board's consideration," county documents state.
Brentsville District Supervisor Tom Gordy thanked Gainesville District Supervisor Bob Weir at the Board's Feb. 4 meeting for leading the charge with this amendment.
"We've been having some issues in the Brentsville District with [construction] starting at 6 a.m. in areas near neighborhoods," Gordy said. "I really appreciate the county staff working to get this done in an expedited manner to help protect our citizens from what is becoming an almost incessant construction of both data centers and residential areas in [my district]."
Gordy also expressed interest in amending the code further. Section 14-4(c) of the county code states construction can begin at 6 a.m. on weekdays.
"This is something that brings us in alignment with many other localities to move the start time for construction from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m.," he said on Feb. 4.
