Greenville County, SC Noise from Specific Sources: Low-Frequency Bass Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Statute
- § 15-104.1, Bass Vibratory Sounds Prohibited
- Adopted
- Ordinance 2588, June 21, 1994
- Standard
- Material distress/discomfort, no dB number
- Evidence threshold
- 3+ complaints, or 1 plus an officer
- Violation level
- Misdemeanor, magistrate's court
- Protected spaces
- Dwellings, hotels, residences
Summary
Greenville County declares low-frequency bass from a stereo, phonograph or musical instrument a nuisance whenever it causes 'material distress, discomfort or injury to persons of ordinary sensibilities' in a nearby dwelling, hotel or residence. County Code § 15-104.1 sets no decibel number for bass; three neighbor complaints, or one complaint backed by a law enforcement officer, count as proof the violation occurred.
Prohibition. The playing of any radio, phonograph, musical instrument, including other mechanical, electric, or electronic devices, which emit low bass vibratory sounds, in such a manner as to cause material distress, discomfort or injury to persons of ordinary sensibilities in any dwelling, hotel, or other type of residence is hereby declared to be a nuisance and is prohibited. Evidence. The complaints of 3 or more persons, or of 1 or more persons, when combined with the complaint of a law enforcement officer, is prima facie evidence that sound regulated by this article has been produced. Violation. A violation of this article shall be considered a misdemeanor and subject to the jurisdiction of the magistrate's court.
Full Breakdown
1 targets 'low bass vibratory sounds' specifically because they can travel through walls and structures in ways an ordinary A-weighted decibel meter under § 15-101 doesn't fully capture. ' The evidence standard is built into the ordinance itself: 'the complaints of 3 or more persons, or of 1 or more persons, when combined with the complaint of a law enforcement officer, is prima facie evidence that sound regulated by this article has been produced,' which lets deputies act without a sound-level reading. A violation is a misdemeanor 'subject to the jurisdiction of the magistrate's court,' the same forum used for the county's other noise offenses.
Violations & Fines
A violation of § 15-104.1 is a misdemeanor within the jurisdiction of magistrate's court. The complaint threshold is written into the statute: three or more residents complaining, or one resident's complaint plus a law enforcement officer's own observation, is treated as prima facie evidence of the violation, so the Sheriff's Office does not need a decibel reading to pursue a citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a decibel limit for bass noise in Greenville County?
How many neighbors have to complain about bass noise?
What happens if I'm cited for bass noise?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Greenville County
Compare Greenville County to another location·View the South Carolina noise from specific sources overview
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