Harnett County, NC Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Harnett County, NC, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Residential nighttime limit
- 55 dB, 10 p.m.-7 a.m.
- Residential daytime limit
- 60 dB, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
- Construction curfew
- 8 p.m.-6 a.m. in residential areas
- First noise citation
- $50 civil penalty
- Repeat citation escalation
- up to $500 per 30-day period
- Enforcing agency
- Harnett County Sheriff's Office
- Ordinance adopted
- passed June 17, 2013
Summary
Harnett County caps continuous sound at 55 decibels near residential property between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., down from the 60-decibel daytime limit, under Code of Ordinances § 92.29. A separate construction curfew in § 92.27(H) bars building, demolition, or repair work between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. in residential areas. The Sheriff's Office enforces both.
(A) The permissible noise level limits identify the maximum permitted sound levels for continuous sound generated in the use categories listed below. When Land Use Is Adjacent To ... Maximum Permissible Sound Level 7:00 a.m. through 10 p.m. ... Maximum Permissible Sound Level 10:00 p.m. through 7:00 a.m. Commercial or business uses 75 (dB) 70 (dB) Manufacturing, industrial, or agricultural uses 75 (dB) 75 (dB) Residential uses 60 (dB) 55 (dB) (B) No person shall operate, or cause to be operated, any source of continuous sound from any use in such a manner as to create a sound level which exceeds the limits set forth for the use category listed above, more than 10% of any measurement period, which shall not be less than ten minutes.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-7: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through 11-18-2024; and State Legislation current through 2024 Legislative Service #2).
Full Breakdown
29 of the Harnett County Code of Ordinances sets the county's core nighttime sound limits by land use. but drops to 70 decibels overnight. Manufacturing, industrial, or agricultural land stays capped at 75 decibels around the clock. m. No source may exceed those limits for more than 10% of any measurement period, which cannot run shorter than ten minutes, and any intermittent spike cannot top the base limit by more than 15 dB(A). , except for urgent work needed to protect public safety. 26 against noise that is unreasonably loud and disturbing.
28 exempts scheduled school and county Parks and Recreation athletic events, farming and lawn-maintenance noise, emergency work, church services, government operations, permitted fireworks, and county-sanctioned parades, street fairs, and festivals from these limits entirely.
Violations & Fines
Under § 92.99, the Sheriff's Office issues a written warning on the first detection; repeat violations draw civil citations of $50 for a first offense, $100 for a second citation within the same 30-day period, $250 for a third, and $500 for every subsequent citation in that window. Payments not made within ten days add a $50 delinquency charge, collectible through civil action. The county can also prosecute as a misdemeanor under G.S. § 14-4 or seek a court injunction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the nighttime noise limits in Harnett County?
Can construction happen at night in unincorporated Harnett County?
Who investigates a noise complaint in Harnett County?
What is the fine for a noise violation in Harnett County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Harnett County
How Harnett County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Harnett County to another location·View the North Carolina noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.