Greenville, NC Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Greenville, NC, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Night-time window
- 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Residential night limit
- 55 dB(A), down from 60 dB(A) day
- Commercial night limit
- 60 dB(A), down from 65 dB(A) day
- Extra night-only offenses
- Stereo noise, vehicle repair, yelling
- Criminal penalty
- $100-$500, Class 3 misdemeanor
Summary
Greenville's residential sound limit drops from 60 dB(A) to 55 dB(A) every night at 11 p.m., staying lower until 7 a.m. under Table 1 of § 12-5-4, the code's defined 'night-time' window, and several extra nuisance-noise offenses in § 12-5-5 apply only during those hours.
Night-time. ... That time commencing at 11:00 p.m. on one day and ending at 7:00 a.m. the next day or, if using the 24-hour clock, from 2300 - 0700. ... 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
Full Breakdown
down to 55 dB(A) overnight, measured at the property line. Public, commercial and business property gets a similar overnight drop, from 65 dB(A) to 60 dB(A), while manufacturing, industrial and agricultural property stays at 75 dB(A) around the clock. The night-time window also triggers specific nuisance-noise offenses in § 12-5-5(B) that do not apply during the day, including playing a radio, television, musical instrument or other amplified sound 'during the night-time hours as to annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of any person,' repairing or testing a motor vehicle in a residential district 'during the night-time hours,' and yelling or shouting in a residential area during those same hours.
A violation of either the Table 1 nighttime decibel drop or the night-time nuisance offenses is a Class 3 misdemeanor carrying a $100 to $500 fine, plus the same escalating $100/$250/$500 civil-ticket schedule used for daytime noise violations.
Violations & Fines
Between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., the residential decibel ceiling drops to 55 dB(A) and several extra nuisance offenses kick in, such as night-time stereo noise, vehicle repair noise and yelling in residential areas. Violations are a Class 3 misdemeanor ($100-$500) plus civil tickets starting at $100 and rising to $500 per repeat violation within 365 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do quiet hours start in Greenville?
Are there noise rules that only apply at night?
What's the penalty for breaking quiet hours in Greenville?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Greenville
How Greenville compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Greenville to another location·View the North Carolina noise ordinances overview
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