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Rockingham County, NC Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Quiet hours in Rockingham 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

Quiet hours
10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Construction curfew (residential)
8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
First-offense civil penalty
$100
Repeat offense penalty
up to $400
Criminal alternative
Class 3 misdemeanor, $500 max

Summary

Rockingham County bans loud stereos, radios, and firearms noise between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. that disturbs residents' rest.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Rockingham County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Radios, record players, etc. The playing of any radio, television set, record player, stereo or other sound reproduction system, musical instrument or sound-producing or sound-amplifying device in such manner or with such volume, particularly, but not limited to, the hours between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., so as to annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of any person of normal sensibilities in any dwelling, motel, hotel or other type of residence

View official code

Full Breakdown

County ordinance Sec. 18-36 makes it unlawful to create unreasonably loud noise countywide, then singles out radios, stereos, and sound systems played loudly between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. so as to disturb the quiet, comfort, or repose of anyone in a dwelling, motel, or hotel. The same 10:00 p.m.-to-7:00 a.m. window applies to firearms and explosives fired repeatedly or loudly enough to disturb residents. Construction and demolition noise faces a separate curfew: 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. in residential districts, 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. elsewhere.

Violations & Fines

First offense: $100 civil penalty; second within 12 months: $250; third or more: $400, plus a $50 late charge after 30 days. Deputies may instead pursue a Class 3 misdemeanor charge carrying up to a $500 fine under G.S. 14-4(a). Each day of continued violation is a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hours are quiet hours in Rockingham County?
10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. for stereos, radios, and firearms noise that disturbs nearby dwellings, per Sec. 18-36(b).
What happens if I get cited more than once?
Civil penalties escalate: $100 for a first offense, $250 for a second within 12 months, and $400 for a third or later offense in that period.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Rockingham County

Construction HoursSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Dog Leash LawsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Chickens & LivestockSome RestrictionsBarking DogsSome RestrictionsAmplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsDecibel LimitsSome RestrictionsVehicle NoiseSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/NeuterFew RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Pet LimitsSignificant RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Exotic PetsHeavy RestrictionsFire Regulations: Smoke DetectorsSome Restrictions

All Rockingham County rules

How Rockingham County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Rockingham County to another location·View the North Carolina noise ordinances overview

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