Johnston County, NC Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Daytime limit
- 68 dBA (7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.)
- Nighttime limit
- 58 dBA (7:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m.)
- Measured at
- Extraction/landfill site boundary
- Applies to
- Special use extraction and landfill permits
- Enforced by
- County zoning officer, annual inspection
- General noise rule
- Reasonableness standard, no dBA number
Summary
Johnston County has no blanket citywide decibel cap; its everyday noise rule bans only "unreasonably loud or disturbing" sound. The one hard numeric standard sits in the special-use permit conditions for sand and gravel extraction and landfill operations in unincorporated Johnston County: 68 dBA by day, 58 dBA at night, measured at the site boundary.
2. Equivalent sound levels at the boundaries of the extraction site shall not exceed the following standards: i. Between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., 68dBA. ii. Between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., 58dBA.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 14-257(c) of the Land Development Code sets supplemental performance standards for any extraction of earth products or mining operation approved through a special use permit. m. 0 inches per second for impact vibration, plus a 125-decibel ceiling on air blast measured at the zoning lot line. Sec. 14-257(h), governing landfills and land application of sludge, repeats the identical 68 dBA daytime and 58 dBA nighttime caps as a condition of that special use permit. Compliance is checked through annual operations reports the permit holder must file, followed by an annual inspection the zoning officer conducts under Sec.
14-257(c)(4)i to confirm the special use permit's conditions are being met. This is a permit-condition standard, not a general property-line noise limit that applies to homes, businesses, or everyday activity outside these permitted extraction and landfill uses.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the boundary noise limit breaches the special use permit and the Land Development Code. Under the countywide penalty at Sec. 14-614, any LDC violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a $500.00 fine or up to 30 days imprisonment, plus a civil penalty of $100.00 for a first offense, $300.00 for a second, and $500.00 for later offenses, with each day of continued violation counted separately. The county may also hold or revoke permits tied to the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Johnston County set a general decibel limit for noise?
What decibel limit applies to a sand or gravel pit in Johnston County?
Who checks compliance with the extraction noise limit?
What is the penalty for an extraction operation that exceeds the noise limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Johnston County
Compare Johnston County to another location·View the North Carolina noise ordinances overview
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