Guilford County, NC Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Exempted source
- Aircraft and Piedmont Triad Airport Authority activity
- Governing clause
- Sec. 11-8(d)(4)
- General noise standard
- Unreasonably loud, disturbing or unnecessary
- County enforcement for exempt noise
- None; no citation applies
- Nearby airport
- Piedmont Triad International Airport
Summary
Guilford County's noise ordinance does not reach aircraft. Sec. 11-8(d)(4) exempts 'noise originating from aircraft or from any activities conducted upon property of the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority' from the county's general ban on unreasonably loud, disturbing or unnecessary noise, so residents near Piedmont Triad International Airport cannot use the county noise code to cite airport or flight operations.
In determining whether a noise is unreasonably loud, annoying, disturbing, or unnecessary, the following factors incident to such noise are to be considered: time of day; proximity to residential structures; whether the noise is recurrent, intermittent or constant; the volume and intensity; whether the noise has been enhanced in volume or range by any type of electronic or mechanical means; the character, nature and zoning of the area; whether the noise is related to the normal operation of a business or other activity or is the result of some use for individual purposes and whether the noise is subject to being controlled without unreasonable effort or expense to the creator thereof. ... (d) Exceptions. In the interest of public safety and convenience the following activities are exempted from the application of this article: ... (4) Noise originating from aircraft or from any activities conducted upon property of the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 11-8(a) makes it unlawful to create noise that is unreasonably loud, annoying, disturbing or unnecessary, weighing time of day, proximity to homes, whether the sound is constant or recurring, its volume, and whether it results from a business's normal operation. m. S. 153A-340(b)(2). Sec. 11-8(d)(4) adds a fourth: noise from aircraft or from any activities on Piedmont Triad Airport Authority property. Because Piedmont Triad International Airport sits partly in Guilford County, this exemption means flight operations, ground equipment and other activity on airport-authority property fall outside the noise ordinance entirely, regardless of decibel level, time of night or proximity to nearby homes; only the other listed exceptions in subsection (d) receive comparable treatment.
Violations & Fines
Because aircraft and Piedmont Triad Airport Authority activity are excepted outright, there is no civil citation, warning or misdemeanor exposure under Sec. 11-8 for that noise, unlike the $200 to $500 civil penalties and Class 3 misdemeanor charge under G.S. 14-4 that apply to the other categories of noise the section regulates. A resident's remedy for airport noise, if any, lies with the Federal Aviation Administration or the airport authority itself rather than a county citation issued by the sheriff's office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file a Guilford County noise complaint about airport or aircraft noise?
Why does Guilford County exempt aircraft noise from its noise ordinance?
What noise-related complaints does Guilford County still enforce near the airport?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Guilford County
Compare Guilford County to another location·View the North Carolina noise ordinances overview
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