Onslow County, NC Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)

Onslow County Code of Ordinances Sec. 11-1(b)(2) prohibits "the sounding of any horn or signal device on any automobile, motorcycle, bus or other vehicle while not in motion, except as a danger signal if another vehicle is approaching apparently out of control, or if in motion only as a danger signal," and separately bars creating an unreasonably loud or harsh horn sound or sounding a horn for an unreasonable period of time. Subsection (b)(5) separately bars "the use of any automobile, motorcycle or other vehicle so out of repair, so loaded or in such manner as to create loud grating, grinding, rattling or other noises," which reaches defective mufflers, loose exhaust systems and overloaded vehicles that rattle or grind while operating.

Both provisions sit inside the general noise prohibition of Sec. 11-1(a), which bars any noise detrimental to health, safety or welfare, and the list in subsection (b) is nonexclusive, so other vehicle noise not itemized (a stereo blasting from a parked car, for instance) can still be reached under (b)(3)'s music clause or the general (a) standard. S. 153A-133, and is enforced by the sheriff's office on a complaint basis rather than through a separate equipment-inspection program.