Guilford County's noise ordinance is not decibel-based. Sec. 11-8 sets no dBA numbers; instead it uses a reasonableness standard plus a 30-foot audibility test for amplified sound and vehicle stereos. Officers weigh time, proximity, volume and zoning rather than a meter reading.
Unlike some counties, Guilford County Code Sec. 11-8 does not adopt numeric decibel limits. Enforcement rests on whether a noise is unreasonably loud, disturbing, annoying or unnecessary, evaluated by listed factors: time of day, proximity to residential structures, whether the noise is recurrent or constant, its volume and intensity, whether it is electronically amplified, and the character and zoning of the area. For amplified music (both homes and venues) and vehicle sound systems, the ordinance uses a bright-line 30-foot audibility presumption in place of a decibel meter.
Violations found unreasonable under the standard carry Sec. 11-8 civil penalties of $200/$400/$500 and possible Class 3 misdemeanor prosecution.
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See how Guilford County's decibel limits rules stack up against other locations.
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