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

Wake County Code Chapter 92 ("Noise") was amended by the Wake County Board of Commissioners on December 4, 2023 and took effect January 4, 2024. Section 92.03 states that it is unlawful for any person to cause or allow the emission of any unreasonable noise in the county. "Unreasonable noise" is judged from the perspective of a reasonable person and the rule is paired with specific enumerated prohibitions in Section 92.05.

Section 92.02 defines daytime hours as 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. local time and nighttime hours as 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. local time. While the ordinance does not impose a fixed decibel cap on all sources, several Sec. 92.05 subsections turn on whether the noise is plainly audible at the property line, in a public right-of-way, or for the recipient.

Section 92.04 lists exceptions including emergency operations, utility maintenance work, lawful agricultural operations, and authorized public events. Section 92.06 places the burden of proving an exception on the person claiming it. Chapter 92 applies only within unincorporated Wake County; incorporated municipalities (Raleigh, Cary, Garner, Holly Springs, and others) enforce their own noise codes within their corporate limits. Complaints in unincorporated Wake County are made to the Sheriff's Office (non-emergency line).