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Moore County, NC Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Construction hours in Moore County, NC, sometimes called construction noise rules or contractor work-hour ordinances, set when contractors can run power tools, hammers, and heavy equipment.

Key Facts

Permitted hours
6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Covered work
Excavation, demolition, alteration, repair
Equipment exemption window
Same 6:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. hours
Misdemeanor fine
$100.00 to $500.00
Enforced by
Moore County Sheriff

Summary

Construction work in unincorporated Moore County, including excavation, demolition, alteration and repair, is barred outside 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. under Sec. 10-41(b)(11) of the noise control ordinance, while Sec. 10-42(5) confirms normal construction-site noise is exempt only within that same window.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Moore County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

(11)Construction operations. The erection (including excavation), demolition, alteration, or repair of any building or other structure other than between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. ... (5)Noise caused by any type of construction equipment while it is being used for the purpose for which it is designed and for which it was purchased, or the normal operation of any construction site, except during the hours from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Sec. m. Sec. ,' confirming construction noise loses its protected status overnight. Together the two sections give contractors a clear 16-hour window and put nighttime and pre-dawn work outside it, subject to the county's general noise nuisance standard in Sec. 10-41(a). None of the other Sec. 10-42 exemptions, covering farm operations, athletic events, industrial or commercial normal operations, or emergency work following a public calamity, extend the construction hours further; emergency work has its own separate exemption regardless of time. Violations are enforced by the Moore County Sheriff under Sec. S. 153A-123.

Violations & Fines

Construction noise outside 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. is a Class 3 misdemeanor under Sec. 10-44(a), fined $100.00 to $500.00. The sheriff can instead issue a $200.00 civil penalty, due within ten calendar days, rising to $500.00 total if the county has to sue, and the county can also seek an injunction or abatement order under G.S. 153A-123(d) and (e).

Frequently Asked Questions

What hours can construction happen in unincorporated Moore County?
Sec. 10-41(b)(11) restricts erecting, demolishing, altering or repairing a building or structure to between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Work outside that window is treated as unlawful disturbing noise regardless of the type of equipment used.
Is normal construction equipment noise exempt during the day?
Yes. Sec. 10-42(5) exempts noise from construction equipment used for its designed purpose and normal construction-site operation, but the exemption itself only runs outside the 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. window, matching the daytime hours set in Sec. 10-41(b)(11).
What's the penalty for construction noise at night?
It's a Class 3 misdemeanor under Sec. 10-44(a), fined $100.00 to $500.00, and the Moore County Sheriff can alternatively issue a $200.00 civil penalty due within ten calendar days, which grows to $500.00 total if the county has to sue to collect it.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Moore County

Animal Ordinances: Chickens & LivestockSome RestrictionsAmplified Music & Outdoor SoundSignificant RestrictionsLeaf Blower RulesLight RestrictionsAircraft NoiseSome RestrictionsVehicle NoiseSome RestrictionsBarking DogsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/NeuterSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Cat RulesSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Coyote ManagementSignificant RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Exotic PetsHeavy RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Breed RestrictionsSignificant Restrictions

All Moore County rules

How Moore County compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·Compare Moore County to another location·View the North Carolina noise ordinances overview

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