North Charleston, SC Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in North Charleston, 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
- Outdoor music cutoff
- 11:00 p.m., all outdoor areas
- Applies to
- outdoor seating and outdoor bar areas
- On top of
- permit plus daytime decibel limits
- Repeat violations
- license suspended 12 months
Summary
North Charleston bans music in outdoor seating and outdoor bar areas at commercial establishments after 11 p.m., on top of the amplified-sound permit and decibel limits that already apply to the business.
No music is permitted in outdoor seating and or outdoor bar areas after 11:00 p.m.
Sound levels shall be measured at the property line of the complainant's residentially zoned or occupied property. Sound level may be measured from any point within the interior of the complainant's residentially occupied unit if multiple units are located on the same parcel.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 75).
Full Breakdown
Beyond the tiered decibel limits, § 13-126(c) draws a hard line for outdoor spaces: commercial establishments can't run music in outdoor seating or outdoor bar areas after 11:00 p.m., regardless of volume. The cutoff applies on top of the permit requirement and the day and time decibel schedule that governs amplified sound and live music generally at breweries, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, lounges and event venues. Sound levels are measured at the property line of the nearest residentially zoned or occupied property, or inside the unit itself where units share a parcel.
Violations & Fines
A Code violation carries up to a $500 fine and/or 30 days' imprisonment under § 1-10; three citations within 12 months suspends the business license for a year under § 13-126(d).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a restaurant patio play live music late in North Charleston?
Does the 11 p.m. cutoff apply to indoor music too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in North Charleston
Compare North Charleston to another location·View the South Carolina noise ordinances overview
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Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Charleston County handle amplified music & outdoor sound.