Florence County, SC Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Solar farm limit
- 50 dBA at property line, § 30-114.2(4)
- Mine limit (>5 acres)
- 65 decibels at property line, § 30-117(4)g
- General residential cap
- No numeric zoning standard set
- Enforcement
- § 30-274 misdemeanor plus possible injunction
Summary
Florence County's zoning ordinance sets two specific decibel ceilings rather than a blanket residential noise standard: ground-mounted solar farms cannot exceed 50 dBA at the property line under Sec. 30-114.2(4), and mining or extraction operations over five acres cannot exceed 65 decibels at the property line under Sec. 30-117(4)g. No other zoning section in unincorporated Florence County sets a numeric decibel limit.
Noise levels shall not exceed 50 decibels (dba) from the property line. ... g.Noise. Maximum noise at the property line shall not exceed 65 decibels measured at the property line.
Full Breakdown
The county's Chapter 30 zoning ordinance does not carry a general residential decibel cap; the only two numeric noise ceilings in the code apply to specific land uses. Sec. 30-114.2, which governs 'Solar farm facilities/Level III SES,' states plainly at subsection (4): 'Noise levels shall not exceed 50 decibels (dba) from the property line.' That limit applies at any point along the boundary of the solar farm parcel, not just where it faces a residence.
The second limit sits in Sec. 30-117, the mining and extraction operations article, under the additional requirements for mines larger than five acres. Subsection (4)g reads: 'Noise. Maximum noise at the property line shall not exceed 65 decibels measured at the property line.' That standard sits alongside the same subsection's operating-hour limits (7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays for general work, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for blasting) and its fencing, signage and buffer requirements for mines.
Because these are use-specific standards inside the zoning ordinance, they are enforced the way any zoning condition is: through the certificate of zoning compliance for the solar farm or mine, and through Sec. 30-274's general penalty provision if the operation exceeds the limit after permitting.
Violations & Fines
A solar farm or mine exceeding its decibel limit is a zoning violation under Sec. 30-274: a misdemeanor with a court-set fine, with each day of continued excess noise treated as a separate offense. The county can also revoke the certificate of zoning compliance or pursue an injunction to force compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Florence County set a decibel limit for houses or businesses generally?
Where is the solar farm noise measured?
What noise limit applies to a gravel pit or quarry?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Florence County
Compare Florence County to another location·View the South Carolina noise ordinances overview
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