York County, SC Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in York County, SC, sometimes called construction noise rules or contractor work-hour ordinances, set when contractors can run power tools, hammers, and heavy equipment.
Key Facts
- Night ban
- 9:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m.
- Daytime tools
- 6 a.m.–9 p.m. under 75 dB(A)
- Governing law
- York County Code §56.016
- Penalty
- Up to $500 / 30 days
Summary
York County Code §56.016 bars piledrivers, pneumatic hammers, hoists, and other loud building equipment between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in residential blocks; daytime tools must stay under 75 dB(A).
In conducting any building operations between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., to operate or use any piledrivers, steam shovels, pneumatic hammers, derricks, steam or electric hoists or other apparatus, the use of which is attended with loud or unusual noise, in any block in which more than half of the buildings on either side of the street are used exclusively for residential purposes.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-49: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 3925, passed 6-16-25).
Full Breakdown
On unincorporated land near Fort Mill, Clover, or Lake Wylie, York County's noise ordinance restricts construction noise directly. Running piledrivers, steam shovels, pneumatic hammers, derricks, or hoists between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. is unlawful in any block where more than half the buildings are residential. Daytime construction tools are exempt from the noise limit only when used between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. and kept under 75 dB(A) at the nearest residence. The county enforces this under its police power (S.C. Code §4-9-25). Rock Hill and Fort Mill add their own construction windows inside city limits.
Violations & Fines
Construction noise outside the allowed hours or above the decibel exemption is a magistrate-court misdemeanor fined up to $500 or 30 days. Deputies and code enforcement respond to complaints.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run construction equipment at night in unincorporated York County?
When is daytime construction noise allowed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in York County
How York County compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·Compare York 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.