Charleston County, SC Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Numeric limit
- 70 dBA or audible within 500 ft
- Governing section
- Charleston County Code § 3-43(b)
- Penalty
- Up to $500 fine or 30 days jail
- Private right of action
- Yes, magistrate or circuit court (§3-46)
- Adopted
- Ord. No. 2231 & 2232, Sept. 20, 2022
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Charleston County only
Summary
Unincorporated Charleston County bans any excessive or unreasonable sound that is plainly audible above 70 dBA or within 500 feet of a residentially developed parcel's property line. Sec. 3-43(b) sets this numeric ceiling, backed by a misdemeanor penalty of up to $500 and 30 days in jail.
(a)Any excessive, unnecessary, or unreasonable sound that is plainly audible as set forth in sections 3-41 and 3-42 of this Code which endangers or injures the safety or health of humans or animals, or annoys or disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensibilities is prohibited.(b)Any excessive, unnecessary, or unreasonable sound that is plainly audible within 500 feet of the property line of a residentially developed parcel or above 70 dBA is prohibited.(c)Any excessive, unnecessary, or unreasonable sound that is plainly audible between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. is prohibited. (Ord. No. 1702, § V, 10-25-11; Ord. No. 2231, § II(Exh. A), 9-20-22; Ord. No. 2232, § II(Exh. A), 9-20-22)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 21).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 3-43 of the Charleston County Code, added by Ord. No. 2231 and Ord. No. 2232 on September 20, 2022, is the county's core excessive-noise standard for the unincorporated area (Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant and the other municipalities enforce their own codes). Subsection (a) bars any excessive, unnecessary or unreasonable sound plainly audible under the amplified-sound rules of Sec. 3-41 (vehicle audio) and Sec. 3-42 (real-property sound systems) that endangers health or annoys a reasonable person. Subsection (b) sets the bright-line test: plainly audible within 500 feet of a residentially developed parcel's property line, or measured above 70 dBA, is prohibited outright, with no need to separately prove annoyance once either threshold is crossed.
'Plainly audible' is defined narrowly in Sec. 3-40 as any sound a person can detect with unaided hearing, so no meter reading is required to cite the 500-foot trigger. Sec. 3-44 exempts thirteen categories from the whole noise article, including emergency vehicles and alarms (burglar alarms unlawful past 15 minutes), farming and timber operations, daylight construction and lawn equipment, permitted events, and loading-dock idling; none of the exemptions cover ordinary residential amplified sound above 70 dBA. Sec. 3-45 sets the penalty and Sec. 3-46 preserves a private right of action, letting a specifically-damaged neighbor sue in magistrate or circuit court to abate the noise as a nuisance separately from any county prosecution.
Violations & Fines
Breaching the 70 dBA / 500-foot standard is a misdemeanor under Sec. 3-45, carrying a fine of up to $500, up to 30 days in jail, or both, on conviction. Because the rule is enforced complaint-driven by Charleston County Code Enforcement and the Sheriff's Office, a neighbor can also bring a private nuisance action in magistrate or circuit court under Sec. 3-46.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum noise level allowed in unincorporated Charleston County?
Do I need a decibel meter to prove a noise violation?
Are any noises exempt from the 70 dBA limit?
What happens if I'm cited for violating the noise ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Charleston County
Compare Charleston 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.