Charleston County, SC Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Charleston County, SC, also called nuisance dog, dog noise, or excessive barking ordinances, define when a barking dog becomes a code violation and how complaints are handled.
Key Facts
- Nuisance trigger
- Excessive, continuous or untimely barking, whining or howling
- Also covered
- Chasing/snapping at pedestrians, joggers, leashed dogs, bicycles
- Private lawsuit
- Harmed neighbor may sue directly, § 3-18(b)
- Penalty
- Up to $500 fine or 30 days jail, § 1-8
- Continuing violation
- Each additional day counts as a separate offense
Summary
Charleston County declares it a public nuisance for any animal to "bark, whine or howl in an excessive, continuous or untimely fashion" under County Code § 3-18(a)(5), alongside seven other listed nuisance behaviors, and lets both the county and any specifically harmed neighbor sue in magistrate or circuit court to stop it.
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, possess, or maintain an animal in such a manner as to constitute a public nuisance or a nuisance to neighbors. By way of example and not of limitation, the following acts or actions of an owner, harborer or possessor of an animal are hereby declared to be a public nuisance and therefore unlawful:... (5)Allowing or permitting an animal to bark, whine or howl in an excessive, continuous or untimely fashion so as to interfere with the reasonable use and enjoyment of neighboring premises; or... (7)Maintaining an animal that habitually or repeatedly chases, snaps at, threatens, attacks or barks at pedestrians, joggers, dogs walked on a leash by owners, bicycles, or vehicles; or... (b)In addition to the right of the county government to bring an enforcement action for violations of this section, any individual who is specifically damaged by any violation may, in addition to other remedies, institute an appropriate civil action or other proceeding in the magistrate court or circuit court to abate or prevent the nuisance.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 21).
Full Breakdown
" The same section separately reaches an animal that "habitually or repeatedly chases, snaps at, threatens, attacks or barks at pedestrians, joggers, dogs walked on a leash by owners, bicycles, or vehicles" (item 7), unsanitary or odorous keeping conditions that endanger public health (item 3), property damage such as "turning over garbage containers or damaging gardens, flowers or vegetables" (item 2), and keeping an unconfined female dog or cat in heat that attracts other animals (item 8). Subsection (b) gives "any individual who is specifically damaged by any violation" the right to bring a civil action in magistrate or circuit court to "abate or prevent the nuisance," in addition to the county's own enforcement action.
Because Sec. 3-14 and 3-15, which once held Chapter 3's dedicated penalty and procedure provisions, were repealed by Ordinance No. 00 or up to 30 days in jail, with each additional day the nuisance continues counted as a separate offense.
Violations & Fines
An animal control officer may issue a summons for a nuisance violation under § 3-7(b) once there is probable cause, and a conviction under the general penalty, § 1-8, carries a fine up to $500.00 or up to 30 days in jail, with every additional day of continuing barking treated as a new offense. A neighbor harmed by the barking can also sue directly in magistrate or circuit court under § 3-18(b) without waiting on the county to act.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is barking dog noise itself illegal in Charleston County, or does it need to bother a neighbor?
Can I sue my neighbor directly over their barking dog instead of calling the county?
What is the penalty for a nuisance barking-dog conviction?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Charleston County
Compare Charleston County to another location·View the South Carolina noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.