Alamance County, NC Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Alamance 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
- Weeknight hours
- 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., Sun-Thu
- Weekend hours
- Midnight to 6:00 a.m., Fri-Sat
- Jurisdiction
- Unincorporated Alamance County only
- Enforcement
- Alamance County Sheriff's Office
- Criminal penalty
- Class 3 misdemeanor, up to $500
- Civil citation range
- $50 to $500, escalating per 30 days
Summary
Alamance County bars unreasonably loud, disturbing or unnecessary noise countywide in the unincorporated area from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from midnight to 6:00 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The Sheriff's Office enforces the curfew under the county's dedicated noise ordinance.
it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to make, permit, continue or cause to be made or to create any unreasonably loud, disturbing and unnecessary noise in the County, including but in no way limited to times, from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight to 6:00 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Full Breakdown
m. m. Friday and Saturday. The ordinance defines three violation categories: "unreasonably loud" noise substantially incompatible with the time and place; "disturbing" noise that interrupts the normal peace of the area; and "unnecessary" noise of a character, intensity or duration that disturbs a neighborhood's peace and could be lessened without unduly restricting the maker's conduct. Officers weigh time of day, proximity to homes, whether the noise is recurring or constant, volume, electronic amplification, area character, and whether it stems from normal business or labor activity.
Section 4 limits the ordinance to unincorporated Alamance County; Burlington, Graham, Mebane and Elon enforce their own municipal codes. Section 5 assigns enforcement to the Sheriff of Alamance County or a designee. Under Section 8, anyone with reasonable grounds to believe the ordinance is being violated may report it to the Sheriff's Office, which investigates and, if a violation is confirmed, can issue a written complaint, obtain criminal process, or issue a civil citation. The ordinance was adopted June 20, 2022, replacing the county's prior August 19, 2019 noise ordinance, per Minute Book 45, Page 119.
Violations & Fines
Deputies issue an Initial Written Warning first. Under Section 9, subsequent civil citations within the same 30-day period escalate: $50 for the first, $100 for the second, $250 for the third, and $500 for each additional citation. Unpaid civil penalties add a $50 delinquency charge and are collectible by civil action. Criminally, a violation is a Class 3 misdemeanor under N.C.G.S. § 14-4, punishable by a fine of up to $500, with each instance a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hours does Alamance County's noise curfew cover?
Who enforces the noise curfew in Alamance County?
What happens after a first noise complaint?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Alamance County
How Alamance County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Alamance County to another location·View the North Carolina noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.