Lexington County, SC Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in Lexington 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
- Governing law
- Sec. 26-32(a), County Code
- Standard
- Multi-factor nuisance test, no fixed dB
- Covers
- Music, musical instruments, electronic devices
- Enforced by
- County sheriff's deputies
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, magistrate's court fine
Summary
Lexington County bans loud, unnecessary music and noise that disturbs residential peace, with no fixed decibel meter: officers weigh intensity, time, and location instead.
It shall be unlawful for any person within the unincorporated areas of the county to willfully make or continue, or cause to be made or continued, any loud, unnecessary and unusual noise which disturbs the peace and quiet of any unincorporated or incorporated residential area or which causes discomfort or annoyance to any person... This noise shall include, but not be limited to, noises made by motor vehicles, motorboats, mechanical devices, electrical devices, electronic devices, human voice, music, musical instruments, animals, and all activities accessory to residential living.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
In unincorporated Lexington County it is unlawful to willfully make or continue any loud, unnecessary, and unusual noise that disturbs the peace of a residential area or causes discomfort to others, and the ordinance specifically lists music and musical instruments among the covered sources. There's no decibel meter reading required: courts weigh the noise's intensity, the character of the area, the time of day, whether neighbors could reasonably expect quiet, and any prior complaints. Sheriff's deputies enforce the rule.
Violations & Fines
Violation of the general noise ban is a misdemeanor, fined up to the maximum the magistrate's court allows on conviction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a decibel limit for music in Lexington County?
What happens if I'm cited for loud music?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lexington County
Compare Lexington County to another location·View the South Carolina noise ordinances overview
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