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Aiken County, SC Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Muffling requirement
§ 15-22(10)(h), no exempt hours
Lawn/yard exemption hours
6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Outside exemption
Enforced as subsection (10) nuisance
First-offense fine
$200-$300 or 30 days
Complaint path
Direct to sheriff, one resident enough

Summary

Aiken County requires any noise-creating blower or power fan to be muffled under Code § 15-22(10)(h), and exempts routine lawn and yard maintenance noise only between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. under § 15-22(14)(viii). Running an unmuffled blower, or running one outside those hours, is a declared noise nuisance.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Aiken County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

h. The operation within the county of any noise-creating blower or power fan, the operation of which causes loud or disturbing noise, unless such blower or fan is muffled to deaden such noise. ... viii. Sound as the result of normal or routine lawn/yard maintenance and landscaping between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 119).

Full Breakdown

' That muffling duty applies at any hour. ' is exempted from enforcement. ' A neighbor can complain directly to the Aiken County Sheriff's Office without first gathering the five-resident group normally needed for other nuisance complaints, because subsection (10) noises qualify for the single-complainant path in § 15-25. Code enforcement or the sheriff first issues a written warning with thirty days to correct the problem (§ 15-26); a repeat offense by the same landscaper or homeowner is placed directly on a magistrate's court summons (§ 15-27) rather than a second warning.

Violations & Fines

Running an unmuffled blower, or any lawn equipment outside the 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. exemption window, is a misdemeanor nuisance under § 15-22(10). A first offense carries a $200 to $300 fine or up to thirty days in jail; a second or later offense raises the fine to $400 to $500 and/or up to thirty days under § 15-30.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I run a leaf blower before 6 a.m. in Aiken County?
No exemption applies. Section 15-22(14)(viii) only excuses routine lawn and yard maintenance noise between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.; a blower running earlier loses that exemption and can be cited as an unreasonably loud noise nuisance under § 15-22(10).
Do leaf blowers have to be muffled in Aiken County?
Yes. Section 15-22(10)(h) declares it a nuisance to operate any noise-creating blower or power fan that causes loud or disturbing noise 'unless such blower or fan is muffled to deaden such noise,' and that duty applies at any hour of the day.
What is the penalty for a leaf blower noise complaint in Aiken County?
A first violation of the noise nuisance rules is a misdemeanor punishable by a $200 to $300 fine or up to thirty days in jail under § 15-30(1); repeat violations rise to a $400 to $500 fine and/or thirty days under § 15-30(2).

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Aiken County

Parking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsConstruction HoursSome RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome RestrictionsAmplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsBarking DogsSome RestrictionsDecibel LimitsSome RestrictionsVehicle NoiseSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions

All Aiken County rules

How Aiken County compares: Cities with the Strictest Leaf Blower Rules·Compare Aiken County to another location·View the South Carolina noise ordinances overview

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