Noise Ordinances in Charleston County, SC (2026)
7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Charleston County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Unincorporated Charleston County bars any excessive, unnecessary or unreasonable sound that is plainly audible between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., under Sec. 3-43(c). The curfew applies on top of the county's 70 dBA/500-foot daytime standard and carries the same misdemeanor penalty.
Charleston County Nighttime Noise Curfew
Some RestrictionsCharleston County Code § 3-43(c)
(a)Any excessive, unnecessary, or unreasonable sound that is plainly audible as set forth in sections 3-41 and 3-42 of this Code which endangers or injures the safety or health of humans or animals, or annoys or disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensibilities is prohibited.(b)Any excessive, unnecessary, or unreasonable sound that is plainly audible within 500 feet of the property line of a...
Construction Hours
Unincorporated Charleston County only exempts construction, demolition and mineral-extraction noise from its noise ordinance when the work happens during daytime hours. Sec. 3-44(7) ties that exemption to whichever local, state, federal or permit standard is more restrictive, so nighttime construction noise loses its cover entirely.
Construction Noise Hours in Charleston County
Some RestrictionsCharleston County Code § 3-44(7)
(7)Noise generated by any construction, demolition equipment, or mineral extraction (including crushing, screening, or segregating) operated during daytime hours as per local, state, or federal law or regulation, or as otherwise provided for by permit or variance, whichever is more restrictive.(8)Emergency maintenance, construction, or repair work.(9)Noise created by any government-sponsored ev...
Barking Dogs
Charleston County declares it a public nuisance for any animal to "bark, whine or howl in an excessive, continuous or untimely fashion" under County Code § 3-18(a)(5), alongside seven other listed nuisance behaviors, and lets both the county and any specifically harmed neighbor sue in magistrate or circuit court to stop it.
Barking Dog Nuisance Rules, Charleston County
Some RestrictionsCharleston County Code § 3-18(a)(5), (a)(7), (b)
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, possess, or maintain an animal in such a manner as to constitute a public nuisance or a nuisance to neighbors. By way of example and not of limitation, the following acts or actions of an owner, harborer or possessor of an animal are hereby declared to be a public nuisance and therefore unlawful:... (5)Allowing or permitting an animal to bark...
Leaf Blower Rules
Charleston County only exempts chain saws, sanders, grinders, leaf blowers and other lawn and garden tools from its noise ordinance when they run during daylight hours. Sec. 3-44(6) gives no exemption for the same equipment after dark, so nighttime use falls under the general noise prohibitions.
Leaf Blower and Lawn Tool Hours, Charleston County
Some RestrictionsCharleston County Code § 3-44(6)
(6)Noise from domestic power equipment including, but not limited to, chain saws, sanders, grinders, lawn and garden tools or similar devices operated during daylight hours.(7)Noise generated by any construction, demolition equipment, or mineral extraction (including crushing, screening, or segregating) operated during daytime hours as per local, state, or federal law or regulation, or as other...
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Playing a stereo or sound system on any property so it is "plainly audible within any residential dwelling of another" is unlawful in unincorporated Charleston County under County Code § 3-42, with the same rhythmic-bass test used for vehicles, layered nighttime and 70 dBA/500-foot limits, and specific carve-outs for church bells, farm work and permitted public events.
Amplified Sound Rules, Charleston County SC
Some RestrictionsCharleston County Code §§ 3-42, 3-43(b)-(c)
Sec. 3-42. - Noise—Amplified sound in general. It shall be unlawful for any person to play, operate, or cause to be played or operated, any radio or other music or sound amplification or reproduction equipment upon real property in such a manner as to be plainly audible within any residential dwelling of another. The detection of the rhythmic bass component of the music or sound is sufficient t...
Decibel Limits
Unincorporated Charleston County bans any excessive or unreasonable sound that is plainly audible above 70 dBA or within 500 feet of a residentially developed parcel's property line. Sec. 3-43(b) sets this numeric ceiling, backed by a misdemeanor penalty of up to $500 and 30 days in jail.
Charleston County Noise Decibel Limit: 70 dBA
Some RestrictionsCharleston County Code § 3-43(b)
(a)Any excessive, unnecessary, or unreasonable sound that is plainly audible as set forth in sections 3-41 and 3-42 of this Code which endangers or injures the safety or health of humans or animals, or annoys or disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensibilities is prohibited.(b)Any excessive, unnecessary, or unreasonable sound that is plainly audible within 500 feet of the property line of a...
Vehicle Noise
Charleston County bans playing a vehicle radio or stereo loud enough to be "plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet in any direction from the vehicle" or inside another dwelling, under County Code § 3-41, with the rhythmic bass alone enough to prove a violation; emergency vehicles are exempt while on duty.
Vehicle Stereo Noise Limits, Charleston County SC
Some RestrictionsCharleston County Code §§ 3-40, 3-41
Sec. 3-40. - Definition. As used below, plainly audible means any sound that can be detected by a person using his or her unaided hearing facilities. Sec. 3-41. - Noise—Amplified sound from vehicles. It shall be unlawful for any person to play, operate, or cause to be played or operated, any radio or other vehicular music or sound amplification or reproduction equipment in such a manner as to b...
Noise Ordinances by City in Charleston County
2 cities in Charleston County have their own noise ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Charleston County ordinances
See every category we cover for Charleston County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Charleston County Ordinance Hub →