Noise Ordinances in Wake County, NC (2026)

Wake County Code §92.05(L) (Ord. passed 12-4-2023)

(L) The conducting, operating or maintaining of any garage or filling station in any residential district so as to cause plainly audible unreasonable noise to be emitted therefrom during nighttime hours.

Wake County Code §§92.04(A)(3), 92.05(H) (Ord. passed 12-4-2023)

(3) Equipment being used for construction during daytime hours, provided that all equipment, manufacturers mufflers and noise reducing equipment is operated with all standard equipment, manufacturers mufflers and noise reducing equipment in use and in proper operating condition. … (H) The creation or emission of plainly audible unreasonable noise associated with the erection, alteration, substa...

Wake County Code §92.05(O) (Ord. passed 12-4-2023)

(O) The keeping of any bird, livestock or other animal which by causing frequent or long continued plainly audible unreasonable noise disturbs the comfort or repose of any reasonable person in the vicinity.

Wake County Code §92.04(A)(2) (Ord. passed 12-4-2023)

(A) The following are exceptions to the prohibition of noise pollution: (1) Emergency warning devices or safety signals. (2) Lawn care equipment and agricultural activities during the daytime hours.

Wake County Code §92.03(A)(2) (Ord. passed 12-4-2023)

(2) It shall be unlawful to play any radio, music player, television, audio system or musical instrument in the manner or at the volume as to annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of neighboring inhabitants or at a volume which is plainly audible to persons other than those who are in the premises in which the device or instrument is played and who are voluntary listeners thereto.

Wake County Code §92.05(H), (I), (L); UDO Art. 7

(H) The creation or emission of plainly audible unreasonable noise associated with the erection, alteration, substantial repair, or demolition of any building, earth moving activities, street paving or utility construction, in a residential or business district during nighttime hours … (1) Where the construction as stated above is 1,000 feet from the nearest dwelling, hotel, motel or other type...

Wake County Code §92.05(B), (F); NCGS §20-128

(B) The use of any automobile, motorcycle or other vehicle so out of repair, so loaded, so modified, or driven in such a manner as to be plainly audible upon any reasonable person so as to create unreasonably loud grating, grinding, rattling or other noise. … (F) The discharge into the open air of the exhaust of any steam engine, stationary internal combustion engine, motor vehicle or motorboat...