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UNC Party Registration

Party, Police Free: A UNC Chapel Hill and Town of Chapel Hill Initiative 

The Party Registration Program is designed to allow student community members in single family housing neighborhoods and apartments in Chapel Hill to regulate their parties before Law Enforcement intervention, and to provide all community members an efficient mechanism to address loud parties. It is also designed to allow the Chapel Hill Police Department to better utilize the resources they have available at the patrol level.

How does party registration work?

For 1st Time Users*: Fill out the Party Registration form on-line (below) at least 72 regular business hours (three weekdays) in advance of the gathering**, wait for a response from the program administrators, and schedule a time to meet with them (will take no more than 15 min and will be via Zoom for the Fall 2023 Semester). 

*party registration renews every academic year, so you are considered a first time user the first time you register each year

**For example, if your party is on a Friday night, your form needs to be submitted by the preceding Tuesday at 5pm. If your gathering is on a Monday evening, your form would need to be in by the preceding Wednesday at 5pm. 

For Repeat Users: Fill out the Party Registration form on-line (below) at least 48 regular business hours (2 weekdays) in advance, wait for a response from the program administrators.

On the registration form, provide us with two contact persons, two UNC-Chapel Hill emails, two cell phone numbers, and your local Chapel Hill address. 

If a noise complaint on your house is received, Chapel Hill PD will call or text and give you a warning. 

You will have 20 minutes to shut the party down and avoid the police officers.

Why Register Your Party?

Unlike a citation for a noise violation, registration is FREE. 

You don't want the police officers to stop by - so limit your chance of that happening! 

It gives you an opportunity to take responsibility (before the officers arrive).

If you don't register your party, the presumptive outcome of a noise complaint on your party is a citation. Chapel Hill Police will, in most circumstances, no longer give warnings to loud parties that have not been registered.

Want to know the fine print?

You can register parties for any night of the week (new for Fall 2020).

You MUST register by the 72 hr (3 business days) deadline each week. No exceptions. 

You MUST live at the house being registered. You cannot register a friend's party. 

Party Registration is for noise complaints only, and does not protect you or your guests against any other violations including State and Local COVID19 orders on gatherings, open containers, minor in possession, or public urination.

Parties in a common areas (e.g. pools, garages, parks, apartment courtyards) cannot be registered.

Residences that receive two consecutive warnings on registered parties from Chapel Hill PD will lose party registration privileges for 90 days. Any unregistered location that receives a citation or is warned 2 or more times will be prohibited from registering a party for one calendar year from the date the citation was received or 2nd warning was issued.

Regardless of Party Registration, you are still responsible for obeying local laws. If the police should show up at your residence, be respectful. Let them know you registered and be sure to shut your party down. If you ignore your warning, whether by phone or by the police, you are likely to get a citation. 

See the Town of Chapel Hill Party Registration SOP for more information.

Keep in mind that the Party Registration program only pertains to nuisance noise complaints. Calls to 911 for other violations will likely result in local law enforcement showing up without a warning.

P.S. Party Smart

Even if you register your party, you still need to follow common sense steps to make sure your party doesn't get out of hand. Visit Party Smart for tips on how to keep folks safe and your party out of trouble.

Please remember that forms are due at least 72hrs (3 business days) in advance of the event. Late forms may not be accepted.

Party Registration Form

Party Registration

First Registrant

Second Registrant

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