On September 16th, 2025, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners amended the Orange County Code of Ordinances to address noise concerns in rural areas of Orange County.  Specifically, the County’s noise ordinance was amended to prohibit excessive noise from “Activities and events that generate noise and are unrelated to traditional bona fide farming, pick-your-own, and agricultural or forestry operations, to include but not be limited to, music, crowds, non-permitted fireworks, and amplified noise of any type.”  This could impact events and large gatherings and obviously any use of amplified sound.  Amplified sound is defined in the ordinance as “Any increase of sound by the use of mechanical or electronic equipment.”  This ordinance amendment does not impact most farming activities.  Bona fide farming activities and agricultural and forestry operations, as defined by North Carolina Law and local ordinance, remain exempt from noise ordinance prohibitions.