Georgetown County, SC Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential daytime guideline
- 60 dB, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Residential nighttime guideline
- 50 dB, 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Commercial/industrial daytime guideline
- 70 dB, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Commercial/industrial nighttime guideline
- 65 dB, 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Legal status
- Guidance only, not an enforcement limit
Summary
Georgetown County's noise ordinance publishes decibel guidelines in Appendix A to Code § 13.8-2 rather than setting a strict legal maximum: 60 dB by day and 50 dB at night for residential uses, 70 dB by day and 65 dB at night for commercial, industrial, public or agricultural uses. The section says the numbers are a caution, not an enforcement standard.
(e)Maximum noise levels. For the benefit of those who desire to use amplified outside music as a part of business, or for personal use, decibel (dB) level guidelines are presented in Appendix A to this Code section. These levels are not required or intended for law enforcement, but are intended as a guide and as a caution. If these levels are used as an upper limit by those amplifying music it is highly unlikely that complaints will result. ... APPENDIX A—Noise Level Guidelines (1)Residential uses (excluding transient commercial accommodations): 7:00 a.m.—9:00 p.m., sixty (60) dB. 9:00 p.m.—7:00 a.m., fifty (50) dB. (2)Public space, industrial, commercial (including transient residential accommodations) or agricultural: 7:00 a.m.—9:00 p.m., seventy (70) dB. 9:00 p.m.—7:00 a.m., sixty-five (65) dB.
Full Breakdown
Unlike a strict numeric noise code, Georgetown County frames its decibel table as guidance rather than a bright-line legal limit. Subsection (e) of Code § 13.8-2 states plainly that the levels in Appendix A 'are not required or intended for law enforcement,' but are offered to anyone running amplified outdoor music, whether commercially or for personal use, so they know what is unlikely to draw a complaint. Appendix A splits the county into two use categories, each with a day and night ceiling tied to the same 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. boundary used elsewhere in the noise ordinance.
Residential property, excluding transient commercial accommodations such as short-term rentals, tops out at 60 dB from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and drops to 50 dB overnight. Public space, industrial, commercial and agricultural property, plus transient residential accommodations, gets a higher allowance of 70 dB by day and 65 dB at night. An actual violation is still proven under the general excessive-noise standard in subsections (b) and (c) and the factor test in subsection (d), covering volume, duration, time of day and proximity to sleeping areas, rather than a decibel meter reading alone.
The Georgetown County Sheriff's Office enforces the section countywide in the unincorporated area, and a sustained finding of excessive noise carries the same misdemeanor penalty as any other subsection (c) violation.
Violations & Fines
There is no separate decibel-based citation; a noise complaint is still prosecuted under the general excessive-noise misdemeanor in subsection (i), punishable by a fine of $250 to $500, up to 30 days in jail, or both, with each incident chargeable separately. Staying within the Appendix A guideline levels does not create a legal safe harbor, but the section says it makes a sustained complaint unlikely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the decibel table a legal limit?
What decibel level applies to a residential yard party?
What level applies to a commercial venue playing outdoor music?
Who decides if amplified music actually violates the ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Georgetown County
Compare Georgetown County to another location·View the South Carolina noise ordinances overview
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