Anderson County, SC Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Nonresidential lot line, day
- 74 dBA
- Nonresidential lot line, night
- 69 dBA
- Residential lot line, day
- 70 dBA
- Residential lot line, night
- 65 dBA
- Meter standard
- ANSI S1.4-1971
- Repetitive impulsive sound
- Limit cut 5 dBA daytime
Summary
Anderson County Code § 24-169 caps continuous sound at a facility or property line using A-weighted decibel limits that shift by land use and time of day: 74 dBA daytime and 69 dBA nighttime at a nonresidential lot line, dropping to 70 dBA daytime and 65 dBA nighttime at a residential lot line.
(a)Continuous sound levels (i.e., sound levels that remain essentially constant during the period of observation or measurement) from a facility or property shall not exceed the maximum limits established in Table 1, as measured at the specified locations. Table 1: At a nonresidential lot line, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., 74 dBA; 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., 69 dBA. At a residential lot line, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., 70 dBA; 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., 65 dBA.(b)The sound levels identified in Table 1 shall be measured in decibels and A-weighted, with the unit of measurement being designated as dBA.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 2).
Full Breakdown
4-1971 on the A-weighted (dBA) scale, per § 24-169(b). m. At a residential lot line the caps are tighter: 70 dBA daytime and 65 dBA overnight. The table only sets the baseline; § 24-169(c) through (e) adjust it by sound type. A short, non-repetitive sound gets a ten dBA allowance added to the daytime limit. An impulsive sound with an abrupt onset and rapid decay, like an explosion, also gets a ten dBA daytime allowance. But a repetitive impulsive sound, like hammering, has its limit cut by five dBA during the day, since a sustained repetitive noise is treated as more disruptive than an isolated one.
Traffic, aircraft, and other background sound are factored into a measurement when they interfere with the primary noise being measured, under § 24-169(b). Two categories fall outside the table entirely: § 24-169(f) exempts daytime construction noise, and § 24-169(g) exempts warning devices, emergency alerts, and noise from emergency work.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the § 24-169 sound limits breaches the compliance guarantee that every nonresidential-use permit applicant signs under § 24-177, and § 24-28 makes such a violation of chapter 24 a misdemeanor, enforceable through injunction, mandamus, or other court action by the county or an affected property owner. Section 24-29 makes each day the excess noise continues a separate offense under the § 1-7 general penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the nighttime noise limit at a residential property line in Anderson County?
Does a one-time loud noise get treated the same as continuous noise?
How is noise measured for enforcement in Anderson County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anderson County
Compare Anderson 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.