Noise Ordinances in Rock Hill, SC (2026)
8 verified noise ordinances for Rock Hill, South Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Rock Hill's noise code specifically flags yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing on public streets between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. as a prohibited disturbing noise under City Code § 20-162(16). The same clause reaches similar noise at any hour if it disturbs the quiet or repose of people in a home, office or hotel.
Rock Hill, SC Nighttime Quiet Hours
Some RestrictionsRock Hill City Code § 20-162(16)
(16) Yelling, shouting, etc. Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing on the public streets, particularly between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., or at any time or place so as to annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of persons in any office or in any dwelling, hotel or other type of residence, or of any persons in the vicinity.
Construction Hours
Rock Hill bars loud building-operation equipment, piledrivers, pneumatic hammers, derricks and similar apparatus, between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in mostly residential blocks unless council permits it. A separate exception lets construction and repair work run 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. so long as it stays at or under 75 dB(A) measured from the nearest residential property.
Rock Hill, SC Construction Noise Hours
Some RestrictionsRock Hill City Code § 20-162(3), (18)(e)
(3) Building operations. In conducting any building operations between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., to operate or use any piledrivers, steam shovels, pneumatic hammers, derricks, steam or electric hoists 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...
Barking Dogs
Rock Hill treats a dog or other animal whose frequent or long-continued noise disturbs neighbors as a prohibited noise under City Code Section 20-162(1), enforceable under the general noise ban in Section 20-161 that applies citywide.
Rock Hill Barking Dog Noise Violation
Some RestrictionsRock Hill City Code § 20-162(1)
It shall be unlawful for any person to make or continue, or cause to be made or continued, any unreasonably loud, disturbing noise, or any noise which either disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others, within the corporate limits of the city. ... The following acts, among others, are declared to be loud, disturbing noises in violation of section 20-161...
Leaf Blower Rules
Rock Hill exempts lawn mowers, leaf blowers, saws, drills, sanders, routers and grinders from its general 60-decibel residential noise cap only between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., and only if the tool doesn't exceed 85 dB(A) measured from the nearest residential property, under City Code § 20-162(18)(g).
Rock Hill, SC Leaf Blower & Lawn Tool Hours
Some RestrictionsRock Hill City Code § 20-162(18)(g)
g. Sound produced by operating or permitting the operation of any mechanically powered saw, drill, sander, router, grinder, lawn or garden tool, lawnmower or other similar device used between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. and which activity did not produce a sound exceeding 85 dB(A) when measured from the nearest residential property where the sound is being received and was used for the...
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Rock Hill bans operating any radio, phonograph, loudspeaker or similar sound-amplifying device loud enough to unreasonably disturb people nearby or become a public nuisance, under City Code § 20-162(12). Advertising broadcasts aimed at passersby are named violations. The police chief can permit amplified music for city-sponsored festivals, parades and community celebrations, so long as street traffic is not blocked.
Rock Hill, SC Amplified Sound Rules
Some RestrictionsRock Hill City Code § 20-162(12)
(12) Sound-amplifying devices generally. Operating or causing or permitting to be operated any automatic or electrical piano, phonograph, graphophone, victrola, radio or loudspeakers, or any instrument or sound-producing or sound-amplifying device of like character, so loud as to unreasonably disturb persons in the vicinity thereof or in such a manner as to render the instrument or device a pub...
Aircraft Noise
Rock Hill's noise ordinance caps most activity in or near residential areas at 60 decibels, but the code carves out aircraft explicitly: sound produced by aircraft in flight or operating at an airport is exempt from that decibel limit under § 20-162(18)(f). The city has no separate aircraft noise rule, leaving flight noise to FAA and airport regulation rather than city code.
Rock Hill Exempts Aircraft Noise From Its Limit
Few RestrictionsRock Hill City Code § 20-162(18)(f)
(18)Residential areas. In any residentially zoned area or within 300 feet of any residentially occupied structure in any zone, the noise resulting from any activity, whether open or enclosed, shall not exceed 60 decibels at any point on or beyond the lot line. ... The following shall be exceptions to this subsection (18): ... f.Sound produced by aircraft in flight or in operation at an airport,...
Decibel Limits
Rock Hill caps noise at 60 decibels at the property line in any residentially zoned area, or within 300 feet of a residence in any zone, under City Code § 20-162(18). The level is measured A-weighted, slow response, on a Type 2 sound meter. Emergencies, permitted events, construction and lawn work carry their own listed exceptions.
Rock Hill, SC Residential Decibel Limit
Some RestrictionsRock Hill City Code § 20-162(18)
(18) Residential areas. In any residentially zoned area or within 300 feet of any residentially occupied structure in any zone, the noise resulting from any activity, whether open or enclosed, shall not exceed 60 decibels at any point on or beyond the lot line. For the purpose of determining decibels as referred to in this section, the noise shall be measured on the A-weighting scale and the sl...
Vehicle Noise
Rock Hill bans loud, excessive or unusual noise from operating a motor vehicle on any city street, and separately requires every vehicle to run a working muffler with no cutout or bypass device. Racing an engine while parked and unmuffled exhaust are listed violations under the city's noise ordinance. Rock Hill police enforce both provisions, with fines running up to $500 under the Code's general penalty section.
Excessive Vehicle Noise Ban in Rock Hill, SC
Some RestrictionsRock Hill City Code § 18-69
It shall be unlawful for any person, in the operation of a motor vehicle, to cause, suffer or to allow any loud, excessive or unusual noise in the operation or use of such motor vehicle upon any of the streets of the city.
Looking for York County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Rock Hill city rules.
Noise Ordinances in York County →