Greenville, NC Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential limit, day
- 60 dB(A), 7 a.m.-11 p.m.
- Residential limit, night
- 55 dB(A), 11 p.m.-7 a.m.
- Commercial/public limit
- 65 dB(A) day, 60 dB(A) night
- Industrial/manufacturing limit
- 75 dB(A) at all times
- Measurement point
- At or beyond the property line
- Late civil penalty
- $50 per 72 hours unpaid
Summary
Greenville caps outdoor sound at the property line using Table 1 of § 12-5-4: 60 dB(A) by day and 55 dB(A) at night in residential areas, 65/60 dB(A) in commercial or public space, and a flat 75 dB(A) for manufacturing, industrial or agricultural uses at all times.
(C) Except as allowed in subsection (D) below, no person shall operate or cause to be operated any source of sound in such a manner as to create a sound level which at its peak exceeds the limits set forth for the use occupancy categories in Table 1 when measured at or beyond the property line of the property from which the sound originates. ... TABLE 1: SOUND LEVELS BY USE OCCUPANCY Use Occupancy Category Time Sound Level Limit (dB(A)) Residential 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m60 11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m55 Public space, commercial or 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m65 business 11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m60 Manufacturing, industrial or At all times 75 agricultural
Full Breakdown
; public space, commercial or business property is limited to 65 dB(A) by day and 60 dB(A) overnight; and manufacturing, industrial or agricultural property is capped at 75 dB(A) at all times, day or night. Measurements are taken from the use occupancy of the property where the sound originates, not the property receiving it, and for a duplex or multifamily unit the measurement point moves to at least 25 feet from the neighboring unit's habitable space. Table 2 lets nonresidential properties exceed those baseline numbers, up to 80 dB(A) with a permit, on Friday-through-Sunday evenings and on designated holidays, but residential property is never allowed to exceed Table 1.
S. S. 160A-175 carrying a $100 to $500 fine, and a separate civil-ticket schedule that starts at $100 and rises to $500 per violation within a year, with a $50 delinquency charge added for every 72 hours the civil penalty goes unpaid past five business days.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the Table 1 decibel limit for the property's use category, measured at the property line, is a Class 3 misdemeanor ($100-$500) and a civil offense: $100 for a first violation, $250 for a second within 365 days, $500 for each later one, plus a $50 delinquency charge per 72 hours a civil penalty goes unpaid past five business days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How loud can sound legally be in a Greenville neighborhood?
Is the decibel limit different for businesses?
Where is sound measured for a decibel violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Greenville
Compare Greenville to another location·View the North Carolina noise ordinances overview
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