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

Wake County Code Section 92.05 lists specific prohibited noises in addition to the general "unreasonable noise" prohibition of Sec. 92.03. The construction subsection makes it unlawful to create or emit 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.

Three exceptions are written into the construction provision. First, the rule does not apply when the construction site is more than 1,000 feet from the nearest dwelling or business. Second, work may proceed at night when the property owners or occupants of all dwellings or businesses within 1,000 feet have given written permission. Third, work may proceed continuously when the nature of the construction activity or applicable federal or state law requires continuous operation (for example, certain concrete pours or utility-emergency repairs).

Because Sec. 92.02 defines nighttime as 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., the practical effect is that routine construction in unincorporated Wake County must occur between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. Daytime construction is still subject to the general "unreasonable noise" standard of Sec. 92.03 and Sec. 92.05 (B)-(C) for loading/unloading and impact equipment. Chapter 92 applies only in unincorporated Wake County - incorporated cities (Raleigh, Cary, Apex, etc.) have stricter and separate construction-hour rules in their own codes.