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

Sec. 21-241 states its intent is to let mining operations and manufacturing industries run current facilities during typical first and second shift hours while keeping noise from harming quality of life for the general public. Subsection (b) applies the decibel standard to all existing uses in the mining and manufacturing division of the Standard Industrial Classification, plus any use in the transportation, communications, electric, gas, sanitary services, services, or unclassified divisions of the Sec. 21-113 Table of Uses that is seeking special use or conditional district approval, regardless of the zoning district it sits in.

4-1983 procedures using an A-weighted sound level meter on slow response for a preset eight-minute period, per the manufacturer's technical documentation manual for the meter's controller. Readings are taken at the apparent property line of the noise producer/source, or alternatively at the external boundary of a conditional district or planned development subdivision rather than at each individual lot inside it. m. A use covered by this section that is found exceeding either threshold is out of compliance regardless of whether neighbors have complained, since the standard is measured, not complaint-driven.