Cary, NC Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential limit
- 60 dB(A)
- Measured at
- complainant's property line
- Averaging period
- 1 minute (§ 22-104)
- First offense fine
- $100
- Governing law
- Cary Code § 22-107
Summary
Cary's noise code makes it unlawful to create sound exceeding 60 dB(A) affecting another occupied residential structure, measured at the nearest residential property line, at any hour of the day.
Except as provided in sections 22-105 (exceptions) or 22-109 (relating to amplified noise), it shall be unlawful for anyone to create or cause a sound that exceeds 60 dB(A) affecting any occupied residential structure or unit other than the unit occupied by the person creating the sound. (Code 1982, § 13-14; Ord. No. 93-29, 5-13-1993; Ord. No. 94-022, § 1, 8-11- 1994; Ord. No. 05-003, 2-24-2005; Ord. No. 05-011, 8-11-2005; Ord. No. 2012- Code-03, 4-19-2012; Ord. No. 2013-Code-05, 10-10-2013)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2023 S-87_S-57: Current through local ordinance 2022-Code-05, passed 11-17-2022 and effective 11-17-2022 | LDO: Current through local ordinance 2022-LDO-04, passed 11-17-22 and effective 11-17-22).
Full Breakdown
Under § 22-107 of the Cary Code of Ordinances, it is unlawful for anyone in the Town of Cary to create or cause a sound exceeding 60 dB(A) that affects an occupied residential structure other than the person's own unit, except as allowed by the § 22-105 exceptions or the § 22-109 amplified-sound rules. Per § 22-104, measurements are taken at or within the nearest residential property line occupied by the complainant, averaged over a one-minute measurement period; exceeding the limit by three or more decibels at any point during that period is also a violation.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding 60 dB(A) at a neighboring residence (or spiking 3+ dB above any applicable limit) is enforceable under § 22-112: a $100 civil penalty for a first offense within a year, escalating to $1,000 for a fifth or later offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Cary measure the 60 dB(A) residential limit?
Does the 60 dB(A) limit apply only at night in Cary?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cary
Compare Cary to another location·View the North Carolina noise ordinances overview
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Decibel Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wake County handle decibel limits.