Short-term rental guests in unincorporated Wake County are subject to Chapter 92 of the Wake County Code (adopted 12-4-2023). §92.05(D) singles out playing radios, stereos, TVs, phonographs, tape decks or musical instruments during NIGHTTIME HOURS (11 p.m. - 7 a.m.) at a volume that annoys a reasonable person, while §92.03(A)(2) applies the same plainly-audible standard 24/7. Hosts are typically held responsible under the property-owner provisions.
Wake County's 2023 noise rewrite removed numeric decibel limits in favor of a plainly-audible / reasonable-person standard, enforced by the Wake County Sheriff's Office. Outdoor amplified music at an STR can be cited under §92.03(A)(2) at any hour; nighttime music adds §92.05(D); construction-style activity (jackhammers, generators) is barred at night under §92.05(H). §92.07 requires the deputy to first notify the responsible person — typically the renter on-site, but failure to abate becomes the violation, and the property owner can be cited. Inside Raleigh's city limits, STR-specific noise standards from the 2021 STR ordinance (TC-8-20) apply and explicitly ban special events and large gatherings at short-term rentals; Cary, Apex, Wake Forest and other towns enforce their own noise codes.
Class 3 misdemeanor under Wake County Code §92.07(D), fine not to exceed $500, each day a separate offense. Repeated violations at the same address can prompt UDO enforcement against the property owner for nuisance use.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Wake County, NC
Wake County Code §92.05(H), (I), and (L) target industrial and commercial noise: construction over 1,000 ft from residences, loading/unloading noise at night...
Wake County, NC
Wake County Code §92.05(B), (C), (F) prohibits vehicle exhaust noise from out-of-repair or modified vehicles, gong/siren on non-emergency vehicles, and any i...
Wake County, NC
Wake County treats cats the same as dogs under Ch. 91 — owners must vaccinate against rabies at 4 months and keep current tag displayed at all times per §91....
Wake County, NC
Wake County does NOT impose a numeric limit on pets in unincorporated areas. Cities vary: Raleigh allows up to 4 dogs/cats over 4 months per dwelling under §...
Wake County, NC
Wake County adopted the NC Fire Prevention Code (NCFC) under Code Ch. 72. Residential propane storage follows NCFC Chapter 61 and NFPA 58 — typical residenti...
Wake County, NC
Wake County Code §130.05 (adopted 11-9-2022, effective 12-9-2022) prohibits firearm discharge within 300 yards of any dwelling, school, church, warehouse, pl...
See how Wake County's noise rules rules stack up against other locations.
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