Noise Ordinances in New Hanover County, NC (2026)
5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in New Hanover County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Construction Hours
Sec. 23-34(b) bars operating construction machinery, chainsaws and garage machinery between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., and lawn mowers or other domestic power tools between 9:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., in any residentially zoned area of unincorporated New Hanover County. No decibel meter reading is needed to prove a violation.
New Hanover County Construction Noise Hours
Some RestrictionsNew Hanover County Code of Ordinances § 23-34(b)(1)-(3)
(a)Notwithstanding the decibel ranges set forth in section 23-33, a decibel level reading shall not be necessary for proving a violation of this section.(b)It shall be unlawful to carry on the following activities:(1)Operate construction machinery and chainsaws between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in any residentially zoned area of the county.(2)Operate garage machinery between the hour...
Barking Dogs
Sec. 23-37 makes it unlawful to own, keep or harbor a dog, other animal or bird that, by frequent or habitual howling, yelping or barking, causes loud noises and a seriously annoying disturbance to a person or the neighborhood. The rule sits in the county's noise article, not its animal-control chapter.
New Hanover County Barking Dog Nuisance Law
Some RestrictionsNew Hanover County Code of Ordinances § 23-37
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep or have in his possession, or harbor any dog, other animal or bird which, by frequent or habitual howling, yelping, barking or otherwise, causes loud noises and produces seriously annoying disturbance to any person or to the neighborhood.
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
New Hanover County Code Sec. 23-34(b)(5) bars playing any sound-magnifying device, radio, television, phonograph, amplifier system, tape deck or musical instrument at a volume that creates vibrations annoying a reasonably prudent person. No decibel reading is required to prove a violation, and the ban applies at any hour, not only at night.
New Hanover County Amplified Sound Restrictions
Some RestrictionsNew Hanover County Code of Ordinances § 23-34(b)(5)
(b)It shall be unlawful to carry on the following activities:...(5)The playing of any sound-magnifying device, radio, television, phonograph, amplifier system, tape deck, tape recorder, or musical instruments in such a manner or with such volume or as to create vibrations that annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of a reasonably prudent person.
Decibel Limits
New Hanover County caps ambient-combined sound at 75 decibels in nonresidential zones and 65 decibels in residential zones under Code of Ordinances Sec. 23-33. Both caps drop between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., to 70 decibels nonresidentially and 50 decibels residentially, with readings taken on an A-weighted sound level meter under Sec. 23-32.
New Hanover County Noise Decibel Limits by Zone
Some RestrictionsNew Hanover County Code of Ordinances § 23-33
(a)Nonresidentially zoned districts. For nonresidentially zoned districts, it shall be unlawful for any person to cause or create any sound which, when combined with the ambient noise, exceeds 75 decibels re 0.0002 microbars on the "A" weighing scale. If the ambient noise level exceeds 75 decibels re 0.0002 microbars on the "A" weighing scale, a violation of this article shall occur only when s...
Vehicle Noise
Sec. 23-38 bans operating or allowing the operation of any motor vehicle in the county whose muffler-exhaust or other noise control equipment has been removed, altered or left in such disrepair that it creates loud and disturbing noises. The rule covers straight-piped exhausts and broken mufflers alike.
New Hanover County Vehicle Muffler Noise Law
Some RestrictionsNew Hanover County Code of Ordinances § 23-38
It shall be unlawful to operate or allow the operation of any motor vehicle in the county which has had its muffler-exhaust and/or other noise control equipment removed, altered or maintained in such disrepair as to create loud and disturbing noises.
Noise Ordinances by City in New Hanover County
1 cities in New Hanover County have their own noise ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All New Hanover County ordinances
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