Forsyth County, NC Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in Forsyth 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
- No numeric construction window
- Reasonable-person test applies
- Domestic tools / machinery ban
- 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- Applies within
- 300 feet of a residence
- City citation
- Winston-Salem Code Sec. 46-5
- Penalty
- Class 3 misdemeanor, up to $500
Summary
Neither Forsyth County's Sec. 15-1 nor Winston-Salem's Chapter 46 sets a numeric construction-hours window. Instead, Winston-Salem Sec. 46-5 bans loud domestic tools, garage machinery and refuse front-end loaders near residences from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.; daytime construction is judged by the reasonable-person standard.
It shall be unlawful to carry on the following activities in any residentially zoned area of the city or within 300 feet of any residence in the city: ... The operation of garage machinery between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 68).
Full Breakdown
There is no dedicated "construction hours" section in the current codified county or city noise chapters. The nearest hard rule is Winston-Salem Code Sec. 46-5, which makes it unlawful in residential zones (or within 300 feet of a residence) to run lawn mowers and other gasoline-powered domestic tools, garage machinery, or a refuse front-end loader between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Government road, bridge and utility work is exempt from 10:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m. only when doing it in daytime is impractical (Sec. 46-6(d)). Otherwise, construction noise is enforced under the general "disturb a reasonable person" test of county Sec. 15-1. Check with your specific town if outside the city.
Violations & Fines
Class 3 misdemeanor under G.S. 14-4, fine up to $500 for violations of Winston-Salem Sec. 46-5.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can crews start work at 7 a.m.?
Are road and utility crews exempt at night?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Forsyth County
How Forsyth County compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·Compare Forsyth County to another location·View the North Carolina noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.