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Noise Ordinances in Nash County, NC (2026)

3 rules for unincorporated Nash County, North Carolina.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Nash County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound

Amplifying or intensifying the human voice or any other sound so that it annoys or disturbs reasonable persons of ordinary sensibilities is a public nuisance in unincorporated Nash County under Nash County Code Sec. 16-52(1). First offenses draw a warning, then a Class 3 misdemeanor citation and a $250.00 civil penalty, rising to $500.00 for repeat violations.

Nash County Amplified Sound Limits

Some Restrictions

Nash County Code § 16-52(1)

The use or operation of any mechanical or electrical device, apparatus, or instrument to amplify, intensify, or reproduce the human voice, or to produce, reproduce, intensify or amplify any other sound when the sound is of such character, intensity and duration so as to annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of reasonable persons of ordinary sensibilities.

Decibel Limits

Nash County's only numeric decibel standard applies to junkyards and salvage operations under Nash County Code Sec. 8-120(3): a maximum of 55 decibels continuous and 60 decibels impact noise, measured in any adjacent residential district, with noisy processing barred entirely on Sundays, Christmas, Thanksgiving and between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. The general county noise article has no equivalent numeric ceiling for other sources.

Nash County Junkyard Noise Decibel Limit

Some Restrictions

Nash County Code § 8-120(3)

The following table describes the maximum sound pressure level permitted from any junkyard and measured in any adjacent residential district: Maximum Permitted Sound Levels (Decibels) Continuous Slow Meter Responses Impact Fast Meter Responses 55 60 ... No noisy processing shall be carried on in connection with the business on Sundays, Christmas, Thanksgiving or at any time between the hours of...

Vehicle Noise

In unincorporated Nash County, a vehicle stereo audible more than 60 feet away, unreasonable horn use, and a vehicle operated so as to disturb a residence are all public nuisances under Nash County Code Sec. 16-52(2), (3) and (5). The rules apply whether the vehicle is moving, parked on public or private property, or stopped in traffic.

Nash County Vehicle Stereo and Noise Rules

Some Restrictions

Nash County Code § 16-52(2)-(3)

The playing or operation of any radio, cassette tape player, compact disk player, or any other sound-producing instrument, device or apparatus installed or located in a motor vehicle when the speaker volume is elevated to such an extent that the sound is clearly audible more than 60 feet from the vehicle. The provisions of this subsection shall apply regardless of whether the vehicle is traveli...

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