Charleston, SC Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in Charleston, SC, sometimes called construction noise rules or contractor work-hour ordinances, set when contractors can run power tools, hammers, and heavy equipment.
Key Facts
- Weekday hours
- 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Saturday hours
- 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Sundays/holidays
- No loud construction work allowed
- Concrete pours
- Require 48 hours' resident notice
- After-hours permit
- 7-day permit, renewable on reapplication
- Penalty
- Up to $500 fine or 30 days jail
Summary
Charleston limits loud construction equipment to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays. Section 21-17 bars pile drivers, excavators, backhoes, pneumatic hammers, and similar power equipment outside those hours, and forbids all loud construction work on Sundays and six named city holidays.
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to use or cause the use of any mechanical equipment or tool operated by fuel or electric power in the building, construction, repair, renovation, or demolition operations, including, but not limited to, pile drivers, excavators, backhoes, pneumatic hammers, derricks, cranes, steam or electric hoists, the use of which causes loud and repetitive noises in the city other than between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. weekdays and 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Saturdays. No such construction operations which cause loud and repetitive noises shall occur on Sundays or on the following city holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 114 | Zoning: Supplement 25).
Full Breakdown
on Saturdays. No loud construction work of this kind may occur at all on Sundays or on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, or Christmas Day. Subsection (b) exempts emergency repairs needed to protect people, property, or utilities following a fire, accident, or storm; work ordered by a city official or court to secure a property; utility or right-of-way construction; concrete pours, if the contractor gives residents 48 hours' advance notice; and repairs or remodeling performed entirely by a homeowner with noise contained inside the structure.
Subsection (c) lets the city issue a permit exempting a specific project from the daytime hours if the applicant shows no reasonable alternative exists, the work is compatible with public safety, and the disruption is temporary; permits run seven days and can be renewed on reapplication.
Violations & Fines
Section 21-17 imposes no standalone fine, so contractors who run loud equipment outside the permitted hours face the Code's general penalty under Section 1-16: up to a $500 fine or 30 days in jail, with each day of continued after-hours work a separate offense. Section 21-17(d) makes clear that compliance with the construction-hours limit does not excuse a contractor from also complying with the general noise restrictions in Section 21-16.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time can construction crews start work in Charleston?
Is weekend construction ever allowed on Charleston holidays?
Can a contractor get permission to work outside normal hours?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Charleston
How Charleston compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·Compare Charleston to another location·View the South Carolina noise ordinances overview
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