10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Richland County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Richland County bans any noise that is plainly audible 50 feet from its source and disturbs neighbors, enforced day or night. There are no fixed clock-based quiet hours, but power equipment is only exempt between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Richland County Code Sec. 18-3
It shall be unlawful for any person to make, continue, or cause to be continued, any loud, excessive, unnecessary, or disturbing noise, or any noise which either annoys, disturbs, injures, or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others, within the limits of the unincorporated area of the county.
Richland County's noise ordinance sets no separate construction curfew, but domestic power equipment such as saws and grinders is only exempt from the noise rule when operated after 6:00 a.m. and no later than 10:00 p.m. Outside that window it can violate Section 18-3.
Richland County Code Sec. 18-3
Noise from domestic power equipment including, but not limited to, chain saws, sanders, grinders, lawn and garden tools or similar devices operated after 6:00 a.m. and no later than 10:00 p.m. are exempt.
Richland County prohibits allowing an animal to bark, whine or howl in an excessive, continuous or untimely way that seriously annoys or interferes with neighbors' use of their property. This is enforced under the separate nuisance-animal ordinance, Section 5-8.
Richland County Code Sec. 5-8
Allowing or permitting an animal to bark, whine, or howl in an excessive, unwarranted, and continuous or untimely fashion, or make other noise in such a manner so as to result in a serious annoyance or interference with the reasonable use and enjoyment of neighboring premises.
Richland County has no leaf-blower-specific ordinance. Leaf blowers count as domestic power equipment, so they are exempt from the noise rule only when used between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Outside those hours they can violate Section 18-3.
Richland County Code Sec. 18-3
Noise from domestic power equipment including, but not limited to, chain saws, sanders, grinders, lawn and garden tools or similar devices operated after 6:00 a.m. and no later than 10:00 p.m. are exempt.
Amplified music that is plainly audible 50 feet from its source and disturbs others is unlawful under Richland County's noise ordinance. There are no fixed hours; the plainly-audible standard applies day and night in the unincorporated county.
Richland County Code Sec. 18-3
A loud, excessive, unnecessary, or disturbing noise is defined as any sound which is plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet from its source.
Richland County does not regulate aircraft noise; airspace and flight operations are controlled by the FAA under federal law. Local noise complaints near Columbia Metropolitan Airport or Fort Jackson go to the airport authority or the military, not the county noise ordinance.
Richland County has no separate industrial-noise or decibel-by-zone ordinance. Commercial and industrial noise in the unincorporated county is judged under the same Section 18-3 plainly-audible-at-50-feet nuisance standard as any other noise, with land-use limits set through zoning.
Richland County Code Sec. 18-3
It shall be unlawful for any person to make, continue, or cause to be continued, any loud, excessive, unnecessary, or disturbing noise, or any noise which either annoys, disturbs, injures, or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others, within the limits of the unincorporated area of the county.
No. Richland County's noise ordinance does not set numeric decibel limits. It uses a plainly-audible-at-50-feet standard instead, so officers do not need a sound meter to enforce it. Some cities within the county may use decibel-based rules.
Richland County Code Sec. 18-3
A loud, excessive, unnecessary, or disturbing noise is defined as any sound which is plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet from its source.
Outdoor music from parties, bands or speakers is unlawful in unincorporated Richland County if it is plainly audible 50 feet from the source and disturbs others. Permitted events are excepted. There are no fixed hours, so the standard applies day and night.
Richland County Code Sec. 18-3
A loud, excessive, unnecessary, or disturbing noise is defined as any sound which is plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet from its source.
Richland County makes it unlawful to play a vehicle radio or sound system so loud it is plainly audible 50 feet from the vehicle or inside someone's home. Detecting the rhythmic bass alone is enough to prove a violation under Section 18-3.
Richland County Code Sec. 18-3
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 be plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet in any direction from the vehicle or plainly audible within the residential dwelling of another. Additionally, the detection of the rhythmic bass component o...
1 cities in Richland County have their own noise ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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