Outdoor and live music in unincorporated Charleston County must not be plainly audible within a neighbor's residential dwelling (Section 3-42) or exceed the general 70 dBA / 500-foot residential standard (Section 3-43). Detecting only the rhythmic bass is enough for a violation.
The county has no separate live-entertainment or bandstand ordinance for the unincorporated area; outdoor music is handled under the amplified-sound rule (Section 3-42) and the excessive-noise rule (Section 3-43). Bands, DJs and outdoor speakers cannot be plainly audible inside another person's dwelling, and rhythmic bass alone is sufficient to establish that. Sound above 70 dBA or plainly audible 500 feet from a residence is also prohibited. Beach-town and city venues may need additional permits under their own municipal codes.
Outdoor-music violations under Sections 3-42/3-43 are misdemeanors with fines of up to $500.00.
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