10 rules for unincorporated Spartanburg County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Spartanburg County bars noisy household and construction activity within 300 feet of any residence between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in unincorporated areas. It is also unlawful countywide to willfully make any unreasonably loud noise that disturbs the peace and quiet.
Spartanburg County Code § 30-29 (Unlawful operations)
It shall be unlawful to carry on the following activities within 300 feet of any residence in Spartanburg County... Operate construction machinery between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m... Operate lawn mowers and other domestic tools out of doors between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
In the City of Spartanburg, building erection, demolition, alteration, or repair is limited to 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekdays unless the building inspector grants an emergency permit. In unincorporated county areas, construction machinery is barred within 300 feet of homes from 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
City of Spartanburg Code § 22-50(b)(9)
The erection (including excavating), demolition, alteration or repair of any building other than between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on weekdays, except in case of urgent necessity in the interest of public health and safety, and then only with a permit from the building inspector.
Spartanburg County's noise ordinance specifically excludes sound from domestic animals, deferring barking-dog complaints to the county's animal control ordinance. So a chronically barking dog is pursued through Environmental Enforcement / animal control, not the general noise article.
Spartanburg County Code § 30-27(9) (Exclusions)
Sound from domestic animals addressed by other ordinances or statutes.
The City of Spartanburg requires noise-creating blowers and power fans to be muffled enough to deaden the noise. In unincorporated county areas, leaf blowers count as domestic tools that may not run outdoors within 300 feet of a residence between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
City of Spartanburg Code § 22-50(b)(15)
The operation of any noise-creating blower or power fan or any internal combustion engine, the operation of which causes noise due to the explosion of operating gases or fluids unless the noise from such blower or fan is muffled and such engine is equipped with a muffler device sufficient to deaden such noise.
In the City of Spartanburg, amplified music is a violation if it is plainly audible 50 feet from the property line, or 50 feet from a vehicle. In unincorporated county areas, amplification that disturbs others beyond the premises is unlawful after a warning.
City of Spartanburg Code § 22-49(a)
The operation of any such machine or device in such a manner as to be plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet from the property line of the building or structure in which it is located or 50 feet from the person carrying same shall be a violation of this section.
Spartanburg County's noise ordinance expressly excludes sound from properly equipped aircraft, so real aircraft noise is not a county violation. Model aircraft, however, are covered. In-flight aircraft noise is regulated federally by the FAA, not by the county.
Spartanburg County Code § 30-27(5) (Exclusions)
Sound from operations of properly equipped aircraft. However, this subsection does not include or apply to scale model aircraft. Scale model aircraft are subject to the provisions of this article.
Spartanburg County handles factory and machinery noise through a notice-and-abate process: a manufacturer producing offending noise must receive written notice describing the source, take immediate steps to correct it, and can only be charged after a second written notice of intent to file.
Spartanburg County Code § 30-32(c)
In the event of noises produced by manufacturing establishments as a result of the manufacturing process and produced from the machinery, equipment, or materials, or their combination, the owner or operator shall be mailed or given written notice of violation with a description of the source of the violation.
Neither Spartanburg County nor the City of Spartanburg sets a numeric decibel limit for general noise. The county uses a reasonableness standard, while the City of Spartanburg uses a measurable 'plainly audible at 50 feet' test for amplified and reproduced sound.
City of Spartanburg Code § 22-49(a)
For the purpose of this section, the term "plainly audible" means any sound which can be heard by unimpaired auditory senses based on a direct line of sight of 50 or more feet, however, word and phrases need not be discernible.
For a special outdoor event, Spartanburg County lets organizers apply to the county administrator for an exemption from the noise ordinance, which requires a public hearing before council and published notice. Otherwise, outdoor amplified music must meet the same limits as any other noise.
Spartanburg County Code § 30-33 (Special public events)
Upon receipt by the county administrator of a completed application form for special event exclusion from this section, the county administrator shall notify the applicant of a date for a public hearing before council for presentation by the applicant and response by members of the public.
In unincorporated Spartanburg County it is unlawful to run a motor vehicle with a removed or altered muffler that makes it louder than normal, or to do jackrabbit starts, spin tires, or race engines. The City of Spartanburg also requires effective mufflers and bars loud, rattling vehicles.
Spartanburg County Code § 30-30(1)
It shall be unlawful to operate or allow the operation of any motor vehicle in the unincorporated areas of Spartanburg County: (1) Which has had its muffler-exhaust and/or other noise-control equipment removed, altered or maintained in such disrepair as to create noises louder than those produced by vehicles with such proper equipment.
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