Noise Ordinances in Buncombe County, NC (2026)
7 rules for unincorporated Buncombe County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Playing a radio, TV, stereo, or musical instrument loud enough to disturb neighbors is banned countywide between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. under County Code Sec. 26-181(b)(2), part of the county's general noise ordinance covering dwellings, motels, and hotels alike.
Nighttime Quiet Hours
Some RestrictionsBuncombe County Code Sec. 26-181(b)(2)
(a)Subject to the provisions of this section, it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to make, permit, continue, or cause to be made or to create any unreasonably loud, disturbing, and unnecessary noise in the county...(b)The following acts, among others are declared to be loud, disturbing and unnecessary noises in violation of this section but this enumeration shall not be deemed to be ...
Construction Hours
Building work that generates noise, including excavation, demolition, alteration, or repair, is barred in residential districts between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. under County Code Sec. 26-181(b)(9). An emergency permit from the county manager can lift the curfew for urgent public-safety work, renewable in three-day increments.
Construction Noise Hours
Some RestrictionsBuncombe County Code Sec. 26-181(b)(9)
(a)Subject to the provisions of this section, it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to make, permit, continue, or cause to be made or to create any unreasonably loud, disturbing, and unnecessary noise in the county...(b)The following acts, among others are declared to be loud, disturbing and unnecessary noises in violation of this section but this enumeration shall not be deemed to be ...
Barking Dogs
Keeping any animal or bird that, by frequent or long-continued noise, disturbs the comfort and repose of neighbors is a prohibited noise in unincorporated Buncombe County. Farm-animal noise is expressly exempt.
Buncombe County Barking Dog Noise Rule
Some RestrictionsBuncombe County Code Sec. 26-181(b)(3)
Pets. The keeping of any animal or bird, which, by causing frequent or long continued noise, shall disturb the comfort and repose of any person in the vicinity. (4) Use of vehicles. The use of any automobile, motorcycle, or vehicle so out of repair, so loaded, or operated in such a manner as to create loud or unnecessary grating, grinding, rattling, screeching of tires or other noises. (5) ...
Leaf Blower Rules
Buncombe County has no leaf-blower-specific ordinance. Blowers and power fans fall under the general noise rule: they must be adequately muffled so they don't unreasonably disturb neighbors in the unincorporated county.
Buncombe County Leaf Blower & Power Fan Noise
Some RestrictionsBuncombe County Code Sec. 26-181(b)(14)
Blowers, engines. The operation of any noise-creating blower, power fan, or any internal combustion engine... unless the noise emitting therefrom is sufficiently muffled and the engine is equipped with a muffler device sufficient to deaden such noise, so that the same shall not cause annoyance to the public.
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Buncombe County bans commercial loudspeakers and amplifiers outright and caps noncommercial use so a speaker's voice cannot carry more than 150 feet under County Code Sec. 26-181(b)(16). The rule sits inside the county's general noise ordinance and applies countywide in unincorporated areas, with escalating fines for repeat violations.
Amplified Sound & Loudspeaker Limits
Significant RestrictionsBuncombe County Code Sec. 26-181(b)(16)
(16)Loudspeakers or amplifiers.a.The use of mechanical loudspeakers or amplifiers on trucks, airplanes or other vehicles or by any other means for advertising or other commercial purposes is prohibited.b.In the exercise of noncommercial free speech, loudspeakers or amplifiers may be used, subject to the following conditions:1.It shall be unlawful for any person to speak into a loudspeaker or am...
Decibel Limits
Buncombe County's noise ordinance sets no numeric decibel limit. Instead it prohibits any 'unreasonably loud, disturbing, and unnecessary' noise, judged by a reasonable-person standard rather than a sound meter.
Buncombe County Uses No Decibel Limit
Some RestrictionsBuncombe County Code Sec. 26-181(a)
It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to make, permit, continue, or cause to be made or to create any unreasonably loud, disturbing, and unnecessary noise in the county.
Vehicle Noise
In unincorporated Buncombe County, running a vehicle so out of repair or loaded that it makes loud grating, rattling, or screeching noise, or discharging exhaust without an effective muffler, is a prohibited noise. Unnecessary horn use is also banned.
Buncombe County Vehicle & Exhaust Noise
Some RestrictionsBuncombe County Code Sec. 26-181(b)(4)
Use of vehicles. The use of any automobile, motorcycle, or vehicle so out of repair, so loaded, or operated in such a manner as to create loud or unnecessary grating, grinding, rattling, screeching of tires or other noises. (5) Blowing whistles. The blowing of any steam whistle to any stationary boiler except as a warning of danger. (6) Exhaust discharge. The discharge into open air of the ...
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