Greensboro, NC Noise from Specific Sources: Generator Noise (2026)

1) generally makes it unlawful to create unreasonably loud or disturbing noise anywhere in the city, and § 18-50(k) separately requires any 'noise-creating blower, power fan, steam engine, or internal combustion engine' to be muffled so it doesn't annoy neighbors. under (b). Because the exemption is tied to the outage itself, it covers a generator running while the power is actually down, not a generator run for convenience, a party, or testing when utility service is normal; noise from a generator run outside an outage falls back under the general unlawful-noise standard in § 18-49 and the muffler requirement in § 18-50(k).

The police chief holds primary enforcement responsibility for the noise article under § 18-55, with a dedicated noise enforcement officer designated under § 18-56 to investigate complaints. § 14-4 for a general unlawful-noise violation under § 18-49.