Cumberland County, NC Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Fayetteville Code Sec. 17-10, Table 1
- Residential daytime limit
- 60 dB, 6am-10pm
- Residential nighttime limit
- 55 dB, 10pm-6am
- Commercial limit
- 65 dB day / 60 dB night
- Industrial limit
- 75 dB at all times
- Repeat penalty
- Doubled within 24 months
Summary
Fayetteville City Code Sec. 17-10 sets maximum sound levels by land use and time of day: 60 dB by day and 55 dB at night for residential and public space, 65/60 dB for commercial, and a flat 75 dB for manufacturing, industrial or agricultural land, each measured at the property line.
No person shall operate or cause to be operated by any source of sound: From any occupancy in such a manner as to create a sound level audible, at a distance from the boundary of the property, greater than the limits set forth in Table 1 below; or Which exceeds the limits set forth for the use occupancy category in Table 1 below for more than five minutes, to be measured at or beyond the property boundary of the land use from which the sound emanates. ... Residential or Public Space 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. 60 75 10 p.m. - 6 a.m. 55 35 Commercial or Business 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. 65 90 10 p.m. - 6 a.m. 60 55 Manufacturing, Industrial or Agricultural At all times 75 150
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 8).
Full Breakdown
Table 1 of Sec. in residential or public space areas; 65 dB by day and 60 dB by night in commercial or business areas; and 75 dB at all times in manufacturing, industrial or agricultural areas. Sec. weekends). or 45 dB overnight when measured in an adjoining unit, dropping to a hard 50 dB overnight ceiling. Motor vehicle noise under Sec. 17-13 tops out at 76 dB (35 mph zones) or 80 dB (over 35 mph) for ordinary vehicles, and 91-95 dB for heavy trucks over 10,000 pounds GVWR, measured 25 feet from the lane. Sec. with standard mufflers, permitted construction, church bells, emergency vehicles, licensed temporary events and normal aircraft operations tied to the airport's noise zones.
Violations & Fines
A first violation of Sec. 17-10 or 17-11 draws a civil penalty set by the City Council's fee schedule, payable within 72 hours of the citation or the debt goes to collections; a second violation within 24 months doubles the penalty. Harmed residents may also sue directly in civil court for damages or an injunction under Sec. 17-17(b), independent of any city enforcement action.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the nighttime noise limit in a Fayetteville neighborhood?
Can I run a leaf blower or lawnmower early in the morning?
What happens if I get a second noise citation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cumberland County
Compare Cumberland County to another location·View the North Carolina noise ordinances overview
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