Noise Ordinances in Columbia, SC (2026)
7 verified noise ordinances for Columbia, South Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Columbia cuts its noise limit at night: under City Code Sec. 8-93(c), sound from any non-vehicular source in a residential area cannot exceed 55 dB(A) between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., dropping to 50 dB(A) from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. the next day. The lower nighttime ceiling functions as the city's general quiet-hours standard for stationary noise sources.
Columbia's Nighttime Noise Curfew Rules
Some RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 8-93(c)
(c)Sound from a non-vehicular source located in a residential area, shall not exceed the following limits: 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. of the same day: 55 dB (A) 11:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. of the following day: 50 dB (A)
Construction Hours
Columbia bans loud building-operation noise overnight in residential blocks: under City Code Sec. 8-65, it is unlawful to run any machine, equipment, or apparatus that produces loud or unusual noise during construction between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. in any block where more than half the buildings on either side of the street are used exclusively for residences.
Columbia Bans Loud Construction at Night
Some RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 8-65
It shall be unlawful for any person in conducting any building operations between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. to operate or use any machine, equipment or other apparatus, the use of which is attended with loud or unusual noise, in any block in which more than half of the buildings on either side of the street are used exclusively for residence purposes.
Barking Dogs
Columbia's noise code defers entirely to its animal ordinance: Section 8-96 says animal sounds are governed by Chapter 4, and Section 4-70(b)(6) makes it unlawful to let an animal 'bark, whine, howl, crow or cackle' excessively or continuously enough to seriously annoy or interfere with a neighbor's use of their property.
Columbia Treats Excessive Barking as a Public Nuisance
Some RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 8-96; § 4-70(b)(6)
Noise from animals shall conform to the requirements and guidelines of Article III, Animal Control, of Chapter 4, Animals, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Columbia. ... Allowing or permitting an animal to bark, whine, howl, crow or cackle in an excessive, continuous or untimely fashion, or make other noise in such a manner so as to result in a serious annoyance or interference with the...
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Columbia bars anyone from operating a radio, mechanical musical instrument, or other sound-amplifying device so it casts unreasonably loud, excessive, or disturbing noise onto public streets, especially for advertising or to attract passersby, under City Code Sec. 8-63(a). A tighter rule protects dwellings and hotels: no radio, phonograph, or instrument may be played loudly enough, particularly between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., to disturb residents' quiet or repose.
Columbia Limits Amplified Sound Devices
Some RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 8-63(a)-(b)
(a)Disturbing the public generally. It shall be unlawful for any person to maintain and operate in any building or on any premises in the city any radio device or mechanical musical instrument or device of any kind whereby the sound therefrom is cast directly upon the public streets and places in such a manner as to create unreasonably loud, excessive or disturbing noises and where such device ...
Aircraft Noise
Columbia's noise ordinance exempts aircraft operations from the city's decibel limits and enforcement, deferring entirely to federal noise-control law rather than the sound-level standards that apply to vehicles, construction and residential noise citywide.
Columbia Aircraft Noise Exemption
Few RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 8-94(d)
The provisions of this article shall not apply to: ... (d)Operation of aircraft or other activities which are subject to federal law with respect to noise control.
Decibel Limits
Columbia sets numeric decibel caps by vehicle type and speed limit under City Code Sec. 8-93(a): motorcycles built before 1973 max out at 82 dB(A) on roads posted 35 mph or less and 86 dB(A) above that, other motorcycles and most vehicles cap at 80/84 dB(A), and heavy vehicles over 10,000 pounds cap at 86/88 dB(A). Vehicles on private property or off-road areas are capped at 78 dB(A) under Sec. 8-93(b).
Columbia's Noise Decibel Limits by Vehicle
Some RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 8-93(a)-(b)
(a)Sound from a vehicle being operated on a public road or highway with the following speed limits shall not exceed the following as measured on the "A" weighting scale dB(a): Type of Vehicle / Speed Limit of 35 mph or less / Speed Limit of more than 35 mph. Motorcycle manufactured before 1/1/73 82 dB(A) 86 dB(A). Motorcycle manufactured on or after 1/1/73 80 dB(A) 84 dB(A). Vehicle with a manu...
Vehicle Noise
Columbia requires every motor vehicle and moped on city streets to run a functioning muffler and exhaust system that never exceeds 84 dB(A), matches the factory-installed noise level, and carries no cut-off or bypass device, enforced under Chapter 8's noise-pollution article alongside speed-based sound-level tables.
Columbia Vehicle Muffler and Noise Limits
Some RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 8-95
(a)No person shall operate any vehicle that is not equipped with a muffler in constant operation.(b)Every motor vehicle or moped driven upon a street and propelled by a combustion engine shall be equipped with a muffler and exhaust system in constant operation and properly maintained to prevent any noise:(1)In excess of that emitted by the exhaust system of such vehicle as originally installed ...
Looking for Richland County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Columbia city rules.
Noise Ordinances in Richland County →