Berkeley County, SC Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)

Chapter 8 of the Berkeley County Code defines 'public disturbance' in Sec. 8-1 to include an animal that 'barks, whines, howls, screeches, or crows in an excessive, continuous or untimely fashion that disturbs the peace of neighbors,' alongside molesting passersby, attacking other animals, trespassing on school grounds, being repeatedly at large, damaging property, or causing harm to public health, safety or well-being. Sec. 8-2(o) then places the duty directly on the owner: no owner of any pet or animal shall allow it to become a public disturbance.

Enforcement runs through the animal control officer, who may issue a summons whenever there is probable cause a chapter violation occurred. Sec. 8-6(a) makes the complaint of three or more persons prima facie evidence that a violation has occurred, but a single, well-documented complaint about continuous barking can still support action. Under Sec. 8-6(b), the officer chooses between a 'notice of violation,' which gives the owner 24 hours to correct the problem, or, for a second occurrence, an uncorrected first notice, or a severe case, a summons returnable before the county magistrate.

Officers may also enter enclosures or lots to investigate a suspected violation. Chapter 8, including this barking-dog standard, governs only the unincorporated area of Berkeley County; Goose Creek, Hanahan, Summerville, and the portion of Charleston inside the county boundary enforce their own municipal animal codes, not this chapter.