Noise Ordinances in Forsyth County, NC (2026)
8 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Forsyth County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Forsyth County's "Loud and disturbing noise" ordinance singles out the hours between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., when playing a radio, instrument or amplifier that disturbs a reasonable resident in any nearby dwelling is prohibited. Winston-Salem adopts the county ordinance citywide.
Forsyth County & Winston-Salem quiet hours
Some RestrictionsForsyth County Code Sec. 15-1(b)(5)
The playing of any radio, phonograph, musical instrument, or sound production or amplifying equipment in such manner or with such volume at any time... but particularly during hours between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., as to frighten or disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of any reasonable person of ordinary sensibilities in any dwelling.
Construction Hours
Neither Forsyth County's Sec. 15-1 nor Winston-Salem's Chapter 46 sets a numeric construction-hours window. Instead, Winston-Salem Sec. 46-5 bans loud domestic tools, garage machinery and refuse front-end loaders near residences from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.; daytime construction is judged by the reasonable-person standard.
Construction and heavy-machinery noise hours
Some RestrictionsWinston-Salem Code Sec. 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: ... The operation of garage machinery between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Barking Dogs
Forsyth County Code Sec. 15-1 lists keeping any animal whose frequent or long-continued noise disturbs a reasonable neighbor as a prohibited "loud, disturbing" noise at any time of day or night. Lawful farm operations are expressly protected from this rule.
Barking dogs and animal noise
Some RestrictionsForsyth County Code Sec. 15-1(b)(3)
The keeping of any animal which, by causing frequent or long continued noise, shall frighten or disturb the quiet comfort and repose of any reasonable person of ordinary sensibilities in the vicinity, however, the provisions of this ordinance are preempted by state laws relating to farming and may not interfere with lawful farm operations.
Leaf Blower Rules
Forsyth County and Winston-Salem set no leaf-blower-specific decibel or model ban. Winston-Salem Code Sec. 46-5 does make it unlawful to run lawn mowers and other gasoline-powered domestic tools outdoors near residences between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.; leaf blowers fall in that category.
Leaf blowers and gas-powered yard tools
Some RestrictionsWinston-Salem Code Sec. 46-5(a)(3)
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
Forsyth County Code Sec. 15-1 prohibits playing any radio, instrument or amplifying equipment at a volume that disturbs a reasonable resident, especially between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Winston-Salem adopts this citywide and, in designated entertainment districts, sets a 300-foot plainly-audible limit.
Amplified music and sound systems
Some RestrictionsWinston-Salem Code Sec. 46-7(b)
It shall be unlawful for a commercial establishment within an entertainment district to play, operate, or cause to be played or operated, any amplified or non-amplified musical instrument or sound reproduction device in a manner that causes a noise disturbance... plainly audible... in excess of 300 feet measured from the perimeter of the entertainment district.
Aircraft Noise
Forsyth County and Winston-Salem set no local decibel limit on aircraft; aircraft noise and operations are regulated federally by the FAA, which preempts most local rules. Winston-Salem's sound-amplification distance limits expressly do not apply to sound issued from aircraft.
Aircraft noise near Smith Reynolds Airport
Some RestrictionsWinston-Salem Code Sec. 46-33(d)(6)
Except as otherwise provided, the volume of sound shall be controlled so that it will not be audible for a distance in excess of 100 feet from the sound truck... provided, however, that the limitation of audibility to a distance not in excess of 100 feet shall not apply to sound issued from aircraft.
Decibel Limits
Forsyth County measures noise by distance, not decibels: Code Sec. 15-1(c) makes it unlawful to play a radio, tape player, or amplifying device so loudly that it disturbs or frightens listeners 100 feet from the device or vehicle on a public right-of-way or public space. The rule runs around the clock, though Sec. 15-1(b)(5) singles out 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. as the hours the county watches closest for residential noise complaints.
Forsyth County's 100-Foot Noise Standard
Some RestrictionsForsyth County Code § 15-1(c)
(c)Noise limit. It shall be unlawful to:(1)Cause, allow or permit the operating or playing of any radio, tape player or similar device that reproduces or amplifies sound in such a manner as to produce disturbing or frightening noise at one hundred (100) feet from the device or vehicle containing that device when the device or vehicle is being operated in or on a public right-of-way or public sp...
Vehicle Noise
Forsyth County Code Sec. 15-1 bans playing a radio or amplifier in a vehicle on public right-of-way loud enough to be disturbing at 100 feet, and covers loud, defective or improperly loaded vehicles. Winston-Salem tightens the car-audio distance to 50 feet under Sec. 46-36.
Vehicle and car-stereo noise
Some RestrictionsWinston-Salem Code Sec. 46-36(a)
No person shall cause, allow or permit the operating or playing of any radio, tape player or similar device that reproduces or amplifies sound in such a manner as to create noise at 50 feet from the device or vehicle containing that device when the device or vehicle is being operated in or on a public right-of-way or public space.
Noise Ordinances by City in Forsyth County
1 cities in Forsyth County have their own noise ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Forsyth County ordinances
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