Noise Ordinances in Spartanburg County, SC (2026)
8 rules for unincorporated Spartanburg County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
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.
Quiet Hours: No Late-Night Domestic Tools Near Homes
Some RestrictionsSpartanburg 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, defined as a single-family or multifamily dwelling, house, apartment, condominium, mobile home or mobile home park: (1)Operate a front-end loader for refuse collection between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.(2)Operate construction machinery between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and...
Construction Hours
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.
Construction Noise Restricted to Daytime Hours
Some RestrictionsCity 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.
Barking Dogs
Spartanburg County's noise ordinance excludes 'sound from domestic animals addressed by other ordinances or statutes' under § 30-27(9), handing barking complaints to the animal control chapter instead. County Code § 6-18(e) deems any pet that habitually barks, whines or howls, or otherwise annoys a neighbor and interferes with their use of their property, a nuisance punishable as a misdemeanor under § 6-4.
Habitual Barking Is a Nuisance in Spartanburg County
Some RestrictionsSpartanburg County Code §§ 30-27(9), 6-18(e)
(9) Sound from domestic animals addressed by other ordinances or statutes... the owner or keeper of any animal which habitually barks, whines or howls, or which habitually chases or runs after persons or vehicles, or which habitually runs at large or trespasses on the property of others, or which destroys, damages, soils, defiles or defecates on property of another person or legal entity, or wh...
Leaf Blower Rules
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.
Leaf Blowers Must Be Muffled and Off at Night
Some RestrictionsCity 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.
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
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.
Outdoor Events Can Seek a County Noise-Exemption Permit
Some RestrictionsSpartanburg 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. The applicant shall publish notice of the public hearing date and place in a newspaper of general circulat...
Aircraft Noise
Spartanburg County's noise ordinance exempts "sound from operations of properly equipped aircraft" under Code § 30-27(5), but that same subsection strips the exemption from scale model aircraft, which stay fully subject to the article. County Council adopted the carve-out in 1995 alongside exemptions for trains, emergency vehicles and permitted public events.
Spartanburg County Exempts Aircraft From Its Noise Ordinance
Few RestrictionsSpartanburg County Code § 30-27(5)
In accordance with section 30-26 hereof, the following sounds are not restricted by this article and not subject to the provisions of this article: (1)Sound from outdoor athletic events and lawful hunting.(2)Sound of emergency vehicles, safety signals, warning devices, pressure relief valves, farm equipment, actual or electronic church bells and chimes.(3)Sound from parades, lawful picketing...
Decibel Limits
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.
Manufacturing Noise Gets Written Notice Before Charges
Some RestrictionsSpartanburg 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.
Vehicle Noise
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.
Loud Exhausts and Squealing Tires Are Illegal
Some RestrictionsSpartanburg 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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