Neither Spartanburg County nor the City of Spartanburg sets a numeric decibel limit for general noise. The county uses a reasonableness standard, while the City of Spartanburg uses a measurable 'plainly audible at 50 feet' test for amplified and reproduced sound.
Spartanburg County's noise article turns on whether a noise is 'unreasonably loud and unseemly' and disturbs the peace (§ 30-28), not on decibel readings. The City of Spartanburg likewise avoids a dBA table but supplies an objective yardstick: under Code § 22-49, sound is measured by whether it is 'plainly audible' at 50 feet, defined as any sound heard by unimpaired hearing along a 50-foot line of sight, even if words are not discernible. For motor vehicles, the county cross-references the state muffler standard in S.C. Code § 56-5-5020. Individual zoning districts may impose additional performance standards.
Because there is no decibel meter requirement, officers judge violations by the reasonableness or 50-foot audibility test; county violations are misdemeanors (up to $500 or 30 days).
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Spartanburg County's decibel limits rules stack up against other locations.
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