Noise ordinances › Durham, NC

Durham noise ordinance: quiet hours, limits and complaints

Last updated: October 5, 2026

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Quiet hours in Durham

The decibel standard has a nighttime band of 11:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. (50 dB(A)) and a daytime and evening band from after 8:00 a.m. to before 11:00 p.m. (60 dB(A)), and it covers only mechanically or electronically produced or amplified sound (26-23(d)(2)-(3)). Playing a radio, phonograph or musical instrument so as to annoy or disturb people in a dwelling, hotel or other residence is a listed violation at any hour, "particularly during the hours between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m." (26-23(b)(2)), so that act names a window ending an hour earlier than the decibel night. Building erection (including excavation), demolition, alteration, repair or exterior cleaning in a residential or business district is allowed only between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on "weekdays," which the subsection defines as any day except Sunday; outside those hours, and on Sundays, it needs a city manager permit (available for emergencies, continuous operations or work that cannot be done while a plant or enterprise is running) unless it is a case of urgent necessity in the interest of public safety or convenience (26-23(b)(8)). Properly muffled motor vehicles, lawnmowers and agricultural equipment are exempt only from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (26-23(e)(5)), and unamplified musical performances at Durham Central Park only from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (26-23(e)(7)). The general prohibition in 26-23(a), the other listed acts and Sec. 26-24 carry no hours; time of day is the first of the factors used to decide whether a noise is unreasonably loud and disturbing.

Decibel limits

Yes, for one class of sound. Sec. 26-23(d) applies "in addition to" the general rules to any mechanically or electronically produced or amplified sound that exceeds the limits "as such sound is measured at any point beyond the boundary of the property from which the sound emanates" and is not authorized by a permit under the City Code or state or federal authority or exempted by 26-23(e): 50 dB(A) at night (11:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.) and 60 dB(A) in the daytime and evening (after 8:00 a.m. to before 11:00 p.m.). The same two figures apply in every zone; Article II has no zone table and no separate commercial or industrial limit. Readings use a sound level meter and the A-weighting network as specified in the ANSI specifications for sound level meters (26-23(d)(4)); Article II does not say who takes readings, for how long, or where beyond the property line. Everything else is judged without a meter: the general ban on any "unreasonably loud and disturbing noise" (26-23(a)), where "unreasonably loud" means substantially incompatible with the time and location where created so as to create an actual or imminent interference with peace or good order, and "disturbing" means perceived by a person of ordinary sensibilities as interrupting the normal peace and calm of the area, weighed by eight listed factors (time of day; proximity to residential structures; whether the noise is recurrent, intermittent or constant; volume and intensity; electronic or mechanical enhancement; the character and zoning of the area; whether it relates to the normal operation of a business or other labor activity; and whether it can be controlled without unreasonable effort or expense); the thirteen listed acts in 26-23(b); and Sec. 26-24, which bans sound devices whose sound is cast directly on public streets and places, used to attract public attention, or heard to the annoyance or inconvenience of travelers or persons in neighboring premises. Article II has no "plainly audible at N feet" distance test.

What the ordinance actually says

Sec. 26-23(a): "Subject to the provisions of this section, it shall be unlawful for any person to make, permit, continue, or cause to be made or to create any unreasonably loud and disturbing noise in the city. For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply: (1) Unreasonably loud. Noise which is substantially incompatible with the time and location where created to the extent that it creates an actual or imminent interference with peace or good order. (2) Disturbing. Noise which is perceived by a person of ordinary sensibilities as interrupting the normal peace and calm of the area."

Sec. 26-23(d)(1)-(3): "In addition to the violations established by subsections (a) and (b) of this section, no person shall cause, produce, or allow any mechanically or electronically produced or amplified sound that: (i) exceeds the levels set out in subsection (d) of this section as such sound is measured at any point beyond the boundary of the property from which the sound emanates, and (ii) is not authorized by a permit issued pursuant to the City Code or state or federal authority; or otherwise exempted from regulation by the exceptions established by subsection (e) of this section; (2) No nighttime (11:00 p.m.—8:00 a.m.) sound level shall exceed 50 dB(A); (3) No daytime or evening (after 8:00 a.m.—before 11:00 p.m.) sound level shall exceed 60 dB(A)"

Sec. 26-23(b)(2): "The playing of any radio, phonograph or any musical instrument in such a manner or with such volume, particularly during the hours between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., as to annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of persons in any dwelling, hotel or other type of residence."

Sec. 26-23(b)(8): "The erection (including excavation), demolition, alteration or repair, or cleaning the outside of, any building in a residential or business district other than between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on weekdays, except in cases of urgent necessity in the interest of public safety or convenience; ... The term "weekdays," when used in this subsection, means any day except Sunday."

Sec. 26-24: "It shall be unlawful for any person to maintain and operate in any building or on any premises in the city or on any public street or on any motor vehicle using the streets or any airplane flying over the city, any radio device or mechanical musical instrument or amplifier or device of any kind whereby the sound therefrom is cast directly upon the public streets and places or for the purpose of attracting the attention of the public, or which is so placed and operated that the sounds coming therefrom can be heard to the annoyance or inconvenience of travelers upon any street or public place, or of persons in neighboring premises; ... In addition to any other remedy available in the Code, violation of this section is a misdemeanor."

Sec. 1-9(a): "Whenever in any ordinance, any act is made or declared to be a misdemeanor, or the failure to do any act is made or declared to be a misdemeanor, each separate violation of such provision shall be a Class 3 misdemeanor, for which the maximum fine shall be $50.00 unless the ordinance expressly states that the maximum fine is greater than $50.00, and for which the maximum imprisonment shall be 20 days."

Quoted verbatim from the official codified text (Code of Ordinances, City of Durham, North Carolina, Part II, Chapter 26 "Environment, Litter, Vandalism and Pollution," Article II "Noise": Sec. 26-23 "Generally" (Code 1964, § 13-17; Code 1982; Ord. No. 6445, 7-23-1984; Ord. No. 6884, 2-17-1986; Ord. No. 11687, 5-17-1999; Ord. No. 15257, 2-19-2018; Ord. No. 15946, 6-6-2022), Sec. 26-24 "Radios and mechanical musical instruments" (Code 1964, § 13-18; Code 1982; Ord. No. 15982, § 57, 8-1-2022) and Sec. 26-25 "Chimes on religious facilities, etc." (Code 1964, § 13-19; Code 1982); with Sec. 1-9 (general penalties), Sec. 6-1 (county animal control ordinances applicable in the city) and Sec. 38-14 (outdoor musical concerts and performances; permit required). Text read on Municode (library.municode.com, the City's code host; Supp. No. 37, Update 1, whose banner reads "Codified through Ordinance No. 16682, enacted June 15, 2020," although Municode's ordinance list files No. 16682 under 2026 and the supplement history runs to ordinances of 6-15-2026; Municode flags none of the 2026 ordinances it lists for Durham as uncodified) on 2026-10-05.). Verified against the live code on 2026-10-05. Ordinances get amended — before acting on a specific provision, check the linked official code. This page is a plain-language summary, not legal advice.

How to file a noise complaint in Durham

Per durhamnc.gov, Emergency Communications, "Non-Emergency Number": "Durham 911 Center Non-Emergency Number - (919) 560-4600"; the page lists "Barking dogs" and "Loud music" among the calls that should go to that number rather than 911, says all calls to it are received directly into the Durham Emergency Communication Center (DECC) and tracked the same as 911 calls, and adds that anyone in doubt about which number to call should use 911. The Police Department's directory page on durhamnc.gov lists "Emergency: 911" and "Non-Emergency: 919-560-4600 919-560-4601." Article II does not name an enforcing department. Violations of 26-23 and 26-24 are misdemeanors (26-23(f), 26-24), which Sec. 1-9(a) makes Class 3 misdemeanors with a maximum fine of $50.00 (the noise sections state no higher fine) and maximum imprisonment of 20 days; each day's continuing violation is a separate offense (1-9(d)). Organizers of outdoor concerts or performances who want relief from 26-23 and 26-24 apply to the city manager for a permit at least 15 days ahead (38-14(b), (d)). Sources: https://www.durhamnc.gov/437/Non-Emergency-Number and https://www.durhamnc.gov/Directory.aspx?DID=4.

Step by step, with what to log and what to expect after you file: how to file a noise complaint in Durham. For the general playbook — documenting the problem, talking to a landlord or HOA, when 311 beats 911 — see the noise complaints guide.

Worth knowing

(1) The decibel limits reach only "mechanically or electronically produced or amplified sound"; voices, animals and any other sound that is not mechanically or electronically produced or amplified go only through the reasonableness test and the listed acts, which also apply to amplified sound. The limits are taken at any point beyond the source property's boundary rather than at the complainant's property line, and they are the same in every zone. (2) Two different nights: the meter's night runs from 11:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., while the listed radio-and-music act singles out 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. as the time of particular concern; neither is a curfew, and the music act applies at any hour. (3) Erection (including excavation), demolition, alteration, repair and even exterior cleaning of buildings in residential or business districts is limited to 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with no Sunday hours, except in cases of urgent necessity in the interest of public safety or convenience or under a city manager permit (26-23(b)(8)); the listed act names only residential and business districts, though the general ban in 26-23(a) still applies everywhere. (4) Exemptions in 26-23(e): safety signals, warning devices and emergency pressure relief valves; authorized emergency vehicles responding to an emergency; temporary activities licensed or permitted by the city or a state or federal agency, within the permit's conditions and limits; properly equipped aircraft (not model aircraft); properly muffled motor vehicles, lawnmowers and agricultural equipment from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; musical chimes from a public or religious institution lasting less than 15 minutes and occurring no more than three times a day; and unamplified musical performances at Durham Central Park from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Under 26-23(c), a motor of one horsepower or less running on a refrigeration truck to keep perishable food from spoiling is not an unnecessary noise. (5) Chimes are treated twice, inconsistently: 26-23(e)(6) exempts public or religious chimes only if under 15 minutes and no more than three times a day, while Sec. 26-25 says nothing in 26-23 or 26-24 "shall be construed as prohibiting the playing of chimes" on religious facilities, business buildings "and any other place within the city." (6) A permitted outdoor concert or performance is outside 26-23 and 26-24 altogether (38-14(a)); the city manager must find, among other things, that its anticipated noise level will not have an unreasonably adverse effect on surrounding residents, businesses or institutions (38-14(c)(3)), and a denial can be appealed to the city council (38-14(e)). (7) Sec. 26-24 exempts licensed real estate auctions on or next to the property being sold and official warning sounds of the emergency management agency. (8) Article II sets no civil penalty; the remedy it names is a misdemeanor, which the general penalty section caps at a $50.00 fine and 20 days (1-9(a)); Sec. 26-24 was last amended by Ord. No. 15982 (8-1-2022), the same ordinance that last amended Sec. 1-9. (9) Other listed acts in 26-23(b) include horns sounded while not in motion except as a danger signal, animals or birds whose frequent or long continued noise disturbs persons in the vicinity, vehicles so out of repair or loaded as to rattle or grind, unmuffled exhaust, unmuffled compressed-air devices, excessive noise next to schools, libraries, courts, hospitals or religious services, loud loading and unloading, peddlers' and hawkers' cries, and drums or loudspeakers used to draw attention to a show or sale. (10) Durham spans three counties, and Sec. 6-1 applies the Durham County Animal Control Ordinance in the Durham County part of the city, Wake County's in the Wake County part and Orange County's in the Orange County part; the note says the city's general penalty section is not meant to apply to violations of the Durham County or Wake County ordinances.

Document it before you report it

Durham's limits are measured numbers, so a reading is direct evidence of how loud it really is. Take a quick reading with the free online decibel meter — it runs in your browser and records nothing — and check how loud your block is on the Durham noise map. For time-stamped measurement history you can show a landlord or code officer, the app keeps a log.