Forsyth County, NC Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Forsyth 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
- Nighttime focus hours
- 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Standard
- Reasonable-person / plainly audible
- County citation
- Forsyth County Code Sec. 15-1
- City citation
- Winston-Salem Code Sec. 46-2
- Penalty
- Class 3 misdemeanor, up to $500
Summary
Forsyth County's "Loud and disturbing noise" ordinance singles out the hours between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., when playing a radio, instrument or amplifier that disturbs a reasonable resident in any nearby dwelling is prohibited. Winston-Salem adopts the county ordinance citywide.
The playing of any radio, phonograph, musical instrument, or sound production or amplifying equipment in such manner or with such volume at any time... but particularly during hours between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., as to frighten or disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of any reasonable person of ordinary sensibilities in any dwelling.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 68).
Full Breakdown
Forsyth County Code Sec. 15-1 bars sounds that "disturb or frighten individuals" at any time, but flags 11:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m. for amplified music and instruments near residences. Enforcement uses a reasonable-person, plainly-audible standard rather than a strict decibel meter. Inside Winston-Salem, Code Sec. 46-2 incorporates the county ordinance by reference so the same quiet-hours rule applies within the city. Winston-Salem Sec. 46-5 adds a separate nighttime window (10:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.) barring loud domestic tools, garage machinery and refuse loaders near homes. Exemptions cover emergencies, farm operations and permitted county festivals.
Violations & Fines
Class 3 misdemeanor under G.S. 14-4, fine up to $500; the county may also recover a civil penalty as a debt if unpaid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a firm quiet-hours curfew?
Does Winston-Salem have its own quiet hours?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Forsyth County
How Forsyth County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Forsyth County to another location·View the North Carolina noise ordinances overview
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