Winston-Salem, NC Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Winston-Salem, NC, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Curfew hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- Restricted activities
- loaders, garage machinery, lawn mowers
- Coverage area
- residential zones or 300 feet of home
- GMA1 recycling limit
- midnight to 6:00 a.m.
- Penalty
- class 3 misdemeanor, up to $500
Summary
Winston-Salem bans loud yard and garage equipment, front-end loaders, garage machinery, lawn mowers and gas-powered tools, in residential areas or within 300 feet of any home between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
It shall be unlawful to carry on the following activities in any residentially zoned area of the city or within 300 feet of any residence in the city: (1) The operation of a front-end loader for refuse collection between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.; (2) The operation of garage machinery between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.; and (3) The operation of lawn mowers and other gasoline-powered domestic tools out-of-doors between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 102 | Personnel: Supplement 96 | Water and Sewer: Supplement 56 | Solid Waste: Supplement 15).
Full Breakdown
Winston-Salem's noise code makes it unlawful to run a front-end loader for refuse collection, garage machinery, or gasoline-powered lawn and garden tools outdoors between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. in any residentially zoned area or within 300 feet of a residence. The restriction doesn't apply to equipment operated quietly enough that it isn't plainly audible from neighboring property, or to emergency work protecting public health and safety. In Growth Management Area 1, glass and can recycling activity within 300 feet of a residence is separately barred between midnight and 6:00 a.m. Violating the section is a class 3 misdemeanor under G.S. 14-4, punishable by up to a $500.00 fine.
Violations & Fines
Class 3 misdemeanor under G.S. 14-4; fine up to $500.00 per violation of Section 46-5, enforced by Winston-Salem police.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I mow my lawn at night in Winston-Salem?
Does the nighttime noise rule apply citywide?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Winston-Salem
How Winston-Salem compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Winston-Salem to another location·View the North Carolina noise ordinances overview
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