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Noise Ordinances in Winston-Salem, NC (2026)

6 verified noise ordinances for Winston-Salem, North Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Quiet Hours

Winston-Salem bans loud yard and garage equipment, front-end loaders, garage machinery, lawn mowers and gas-powered tools, in residential areas or within 300 feet of any home between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

Winston-Salem Quiet Hours: 10 PM–6 AM

Some Restrictions

Winston-Salem Code of Ordinances § 46-5(a)

It shall be unlawful to carry on the following activities in any residentially zoned area of the city or within 300 feet of any residence in the city: (1) The operation of a front-end loader for refuse collection between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.; (2) The operation of garage machinery between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.; and (3) The operation of lawn mowers and other gasol...

Barking Dogs

Winston-Salem treats dogs that bark, howl, or whine for 15+ minutes and seriously annoy neighbors as a nuisance. Police notify the owner on complaint, who then has 24 hours to abate it before facing a misdemeanor charge.

Winston-Salem Barking Dog Nuisance Rule

Some Restrictions

Winston-Salem Code of Ordinances § 6-9

Any person keeping within the corporate limits of the city, or within one mile thereof, one or more dogs which habitually and regularly bark, howl or whine for at least 15 minutes so as to result in serious annoyance to neighboring residents and as to interfere with the reasonable use and enjoyment of the premises occupied by such residents shall be guilty of maintaining a nuisance.

Leaf Blower Rules

Winston-Salem bars gasoline-powered lawn mowers, leaf blowers and other gas-powered yard tools outdoors between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. in residential zones or within 300 feet of any residence citywide.

Winston-Salem Leaf Blower & Gas Tool Hours

Some Restrictions

Winston-Salem Code of Ordinances § 46-5(a)(3)

It shall be unlawful to carry on the following activities in any residentially zoned area of the city or within 300 feet of any residence in the city:...The operation of lawn mowers and other gasoline-powered domestic tools out-of-doors between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound

Amplified sound equipment used on Winston-Salem streets, sidewalks, parks or other public areas needs a city permit, is capped at four hours a day within set windows, limited to 15 watts of power, and can't be audible past 100 feet.

Winston-Salem Amplified Sound Equipment Permit

Significant Restrictions

Winston-Salem Code of Ordinances § 46-33(d)

(d)Use restrictions generally... (2)Except as otherwise provided, operations are permitted for four hours each day, except on Sundays and legal holidays, when no operations shall be authorized. The permitted four hours of operation shall be between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and between the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. ... (7)No sound amplifying equipment shall be operated having...

Aircraft Noise

Smith Reynolds (INT) and Piedmont Triad (GSO) aircraft noise is federally preempted under 49 U.S.C. 40103. Winston-Salem cannot regulate flights. Airports use FAA Part 150 programs.

Noise: Aircraft Noise

Few Restrictions

FAA Aviation Noise Program

Almost 2.6 million passengers fly in and out of U.S. airports every day. Aviation supports 10.6 million American jobs, and moved 39.9 billion pounds of freight in 2016. Along with these benefits, the airplanes that move all these people and products may also disturb those living or working near airports by exposing them to noise. Over the last 40 years, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration ...

Vehicle Noise

Car audio audible 50+ feet from a vehicle violates Winston-Salem noise code. Exhausts louder than stock are prohibited under N.C.G.S. 20-128. WSPD enforces on sight.

Noise: Vehicle Noise

Some Restrictions

N.C.G.S. 20-128 (Exhaust system and emissions control devices)

(a) No person shall drive a motor vehicle on a highway unless such motor vehicle is equipped with a muffler, or other exhaust system of the type installed at the time of manufacture, in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise, annoying smoke and smoke screens. (b) It shall be unlawful to use a "muffler cut-out" on any motor vehicle upon a highway. (c) ...

Looking for Forsyth County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Winston-Salem city rules.

Noise Ordinances in Forsyth County