Quiet hours in Guilford County, NC — also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time — define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
In unincorporated Guilford County, NC, noise ordinance Sec. 11-8 bans unreasonably loud, disturbing, annoying or unnecessary noise at any hour. It singles out 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. for amplified sound, when music audible 30 feet past your property line is presumed illegal.
Guilford County Code Sec. 11-8 uses a disturbance standard rather than a blanket clock-hour curfew: any unreasonably loud, disturbing, annoying or unnecessary noise in the unincorporated county is unlawful. It creates a special nighttime window of 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. for radios, stereos and sound systems at a dwelling, hotel or motel, and presumes a violation if the sound is audible 30 feet or more from the property line. In deciding what is unreasonable, officers weigh time of day, proximity to homes, volume, and zoning. The ordinance applies only to unincorporated areas; Greensboro and High Point have their own city noise codes.
Sheriff or county designee may warn, then issue civil penalties of $200, $400, and $500 for repeat violations within a year; also a Class 3 misdemeanor.
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See how Guilford County's quiet hours rules stack up against other locations.
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