Orangeburg County, SC Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)

2(3) of the Zoning Ordinance sets performance standards for manufacturing uses: 'All noise shall be muffled. In no event shall the sound pressure level of noise radiated continuously from a facility exceed at the lot line the following values in any octave band or frequency,' measured with a sound meter and octave band analyzer meeting American Standards Association specifications. , sets maximum sound pressure levels at the lot line ranging from 79 decibels (20-75 cycle band) down to 35 decibels (4,800-10,000 cycle band) at a residential lot line, and from 65 decibels down to 20 decibels at a nonresidential lot line across the same frequency bands.

, allows the same table's limits plus corrections: 5 decibels added for daytime-only operation, 5 decibels added if the noise source runs less than 20 percent of any hour, 10 decibels added if it runs less than 5 percent of any hour, and 5 decibels subtracted for impulsive noise like hammering or periodic noise like a hum or speech, with only one correction applied at a time. A facility that cannot meet the standard must mitigate to the Zoning Administrator's satisfaction or seek a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals under Article 9.