Chatham County, NC Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)

Chatham County's noise chapter sets a numeric ceiling rather than leaving loudness to a general "unreasonable noise" standard alone. 04(A) caps the maximum permissible daily sound level at 60 decibels measured at the receiving land unless the source holds a permit; with a permit, the ceiling rises to 80 decibels, and the code requires the level to drop back to 60 decibels once the permitted window in division (B) ends. ; outside those hours, no one may exceed 60 decibels even with a permit. 02, but a properly calibrated meter conforming to ANSI standards can be used as evidence.

4 meter, and measurement at the complainant's property line, or at the nearest public or private right-of-way boundary if that location is impractical. For multi-family buildings, measurements are taken inside the complaining resident's unit, four feet above the floor. 07, notify neighbors within 1,000 feet at least 72 hours before the event, and pay a $50 administrative fee.