Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

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

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

Key Facts

Governing law
Pitt County Noise Ordinance Section 3(B)(2)
Enforcing agency
Pitt County Sheriff's Office
First-violation civil penalty
$100
Second-violation civil penalty
$200
Subsequent-violation civil penalty
$400 each
Criminal fine
Up to $400, misdemeanor
Adopted / amended
Aug. 17, 1992; Apr. 4, 2022

Summary

Pitt County bans sounding a vehicle horn or signal device except as a danger signal, and prohibits any horn or signal device that produces an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or that sounds for an unnecessary, unreasonable length of time. The Noise Ordinance's Section 3(B)(2) treats this as a violation of the county's broader loud-noise prohibition, enforced countywide by the Sheriff's Office.

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

The sounding of any horn or signal device on any motor vehicle while not in motion, except as a danger signal if another motor vehicle is approaching apparently out of control, or if in motion only as a danger signal; the creation by means of any such signal device of any unreasonably loud or harsh sound; and the sounding of such device for any unnecessary and unreasonable period of time.

Full Breakdown

Pitt County's Noise Ordinance, originally adopted August 17, 1992 and amended April 4, 2022, makes it unlawful under Section 3(B)(2) to sound a vehicle horn or signal device while the vehicle is not in motion, except as a danger signal when another vehicle appears to be out of control and approaching. Even when used as a warning, a horn or signal device may not be sounded for an unnecessary and unreasonable length of time, and any horn or signal device that produces an unreasonably loud or harsh sound is a violation regardless of how long it runs.

' The Pitt County Sheriff's Office and its deputies enforce the ordinance countywide under Section 4, with authority to review projects for compliance and to grant permits for variances. S. Section 14-4, carrying a fine up to $400, and Section 9 layers on escalating civil penalties: $100 for a first violation, $200 for a second, and $400 for every violation after that. Section 7 treats each day a violation continues as a separate offense. S. Section 153A-123 if not paid within 30 days, and the County can also pursue an injunction against a habitual offender under Section 10 as a public nuisance remedy.

Violations & Fines

A first violation of the horn/signal-device rule draws a $100 civil penalty, $200 for a second violation, and $400 for every violation after that, collectible as civil debt if unpaid within 30 days. Because the ordinance is also enforceable criminally under N.C.G.S. Section 14-4, a violation can instead be charged as a misdemeanor carrying a fine up to $400, and each day the noise continues counts as a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I honk my horn in Pitt County?
Only as a danger signal. Section 3(B)(2) of the Noise Ordinance allows sounding a horn only when another vehicle is approaching apparently out of control, and only as a warning while the vehicle is moving. Any other honking while parked, any harsh or unreasonably loud signal sound, or sounding a horn for an unnecessary length of time violates the ordinance and can draw a Sheriff's Office citation.
What happens if I get cited for horn noise in Pitt County?
A first violation carries a $100 civil penalty, a second draws $200, and every violation after that is $400, under Section 9 of the Noise Ordinance. The County can instead prosecute the violation as a misdemeanor under N.C.G.S. Section 14-4, with a fine up to $400, and unpaid civil penalties become collectible as civil debt after 30 days.
Who enforces Pitt County's vehicle noise rules?
The Pitt County Sheriff's Office and its deputies enforce the Noise Ordinance countywide under Section 4, including the horn and signal-device provisions in Section 3(B)(2). Deputies can also review projects for noise compliance and grant permits for variances or exceptions when an application is filed and consistent with the ordinance.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Pitt County

All Pitt County rules

Compare Pitt County to another location·View the North Carolina noise ordinances overview

Get notified when Vehicle Noise in Pitt County, NC changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.