No. Richland County's noise ordinance does not set numeric decibel limits. It uses a plainly-audible-at-50-feet standard instead, so officers do not need a sound meter to enforce it. Some cities within the county may use decibel-based rules.
Unlike many jurisdictions that publish dBA thresholds by zoning district and time of day, Richland County Section 18-3 defines a violation by whether the sound is plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet from its source. There is no numeric decibel table in the unincorporated-county ordinance. South Carolina has no statewide decibel standard either. If you need a decibel-based limit, check the specific city ordinance for Columbia, Forest Acres, Blythewood or another municipality where you live, since those can differ from the county's audibility standard.
Enforcement is by the plainly-audible-at-50-feet test, not a decibel reading; violations carry a fine up to $500.00 under Sec. 18-3.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Richland County's decibel limits rules stack up against other locations.
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