Spartanburg County, SC Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in Spartanburg County, SC, also called sound permit, PA system, or live music ordinances, set decibel limits, time-of-day restrictions, and when permits are required.
Key Facts
- County permit path
- Code § 30-33 special events
- Requires
- Council public hearing
- Notice
- Published weekly for two weeks
- City late-night limit
- 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- City audibility rule
- Plainly audible at 50 feet
Summary
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.
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 circulation in the county once a week for two weeks, with the first publication at least 15 days prior to the public hearing. The notice shall have the heading:
PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER PERMIT FOR EXEMPTION FROM COUNTY NOISE ORDINANCE FOR (Type of Event).
The form of notice shall otherwise be approved by the county administrator so as to sufficiently inform the public of the request. Proof of publication must be submitted to the administrator prior to the public hearing.
The permit may be granted upon such conditions as council shall require. Any such permit shall be subject to summary revocation by the county administrator upon his judgment that the event fails to comply with the conditions of the permit or with the representations of the application. All publication costs shall be paid by the applicant.
(Ord. No. 556, § 9, 3-13-95; Ord. No. 0-00-010, §§ 1, 2, 7-21-00; Ord. No. O-09-07, § 2, 5-18-09)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 29).
Full Breakdown
Spartanburg County Code § 30-33 creates a special-public-events process: an applicant files a completed form, the county administrator sets a council public hearing, and the applicant must publish notice weekly for two weeks (first notice at least 15 days out). Council may grant a permit on conditions, subject to summary revocation. Without such a permit, outdoor and amplified music must comply with §§ 30-28 and 30-31. Inside the City of Spartanburg, outdoor amplified sound is limited by the 50-foot audibility rule of § 22-49, and late-night yelling or singing on streets is barred between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. under § 22-50(b)(4).
Violations & Fines
Operating a noisy outdoor event without an exemption permit is enforced under the noise article; county violations are misdemeanors with a fine up to $500 or up to 30 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a noise exemption for an outdoor event in the county?
Are there limits on outdoor music in the City of Spartanburg?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Spartanburg County
Compare Spartanburg County to another location·View the South Carolina noise ordinances overview
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