Richland County, SC Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in Richland 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
- Equipment allowed
- After 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Covered devices
- Saws, sanders, grinders, yard tools
- Rule
- Sec. 18-3 power-equipment exemption
- Standard
- Plainly audible at 50 feet
- Max fine
- Up to $500.00
Summary
Richland County's noise ordinance sets no separate construction curfew, but domestic power equipment such as saws and grinders is only exempt from the noise rule when operated after 6:00 a.m. and no later than 10:00 p.m. Outside that window it can violate Section 18-3.
Noise from domestic power equipment including, but not limited to, chain saws, sanders, grinders, lawn and garden tools or similar devices operated after 6:00 a.m. and no later than 10:00 p.m. are exempt.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-24: This supplement is current through Ordinance No. 033-25HR).
Full Breakdown
Section 18-3 exempts noise from domestic power equipment (chain saws, sanders, grinders, lawn and garden tools and similar devices) only when operated after 6:00 a.m. and before 10:00 p.m. Construction and yard work run overnight can therefore be cited under the plainly-audible-at-50-feet nuisance standard. Richland County does not publish a distinct construction-hours section for the unincorporated county; the general noise ordinance and its 6 a.m.–10 p.m. equipment window are the operative rule. Municipal construction-hour rules may differ inside Columbia and other cities.
Violations & Fines
Operating equipment outside the 6 a.m.–10 p.m. window that is plainly audible at 50 feet can be cited under Sec. 18-3, with a fine up to $500.00.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I run a chainsaw or lawn tools?
Is there a separate construction-hours law?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Richland County
How Richland County compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·Compare Richland County to another location·View the South Carolina noise ordinances overview
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