Granville County, NC Noise from Specific Sources: Low-Frequency Bass Limits (2026)

Granville County's noise ordinance, Code § 26-31, was adopted October 4, 1993 (Ord. of 10-4-1993) and applies throughout the unincorporated county, not inside Oxford, Creedmoor, Butner, Stem or Stovall, which enforce their own town codes. Subsection (b)(3) names the playing of any radio, phonograph or other musical instrument in such a manner or with such volume, as to annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of any person as a declared violation of the general prohibition in subsection (a) against unreasonably loud, disturbing and unnecessary noise.

Heavy bass carried through walls or across a property line from a home stereo or vehicle sound system falls squarely within that language even though the code never uses the word bass or sets a decibel threshold; the standard turns on whether the sound disturbs a listener's repose, not on a meter reading. A separate clause, § 26-31(b)(18), reaches the same conduct when the sound is cast directly from the streets or other public places, but exempts Christmas or religious music. Because Chapter 26 does not write its own penalty for this subsection, enforcement runs through the general civil-penalty procedure at Code § 1-6: the county issues a warning citation first, then a civil penalty citation if the noise continues, with 15 days to correct or pay before the county can sue for the penalty as a debt in district court.

Willfully refusing to pay a civil penalty already imposed is a separate misdemeanor under § 1-6(c), punishable by up to a $500.00 fine or 30 days in jail under G.S. 14-4, and each day the loud playing continues is its own violation.