Horry County, SC Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Horry County, SC, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Nighttime quiet hours
- 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Audibility trigger
- 50 feet away
- Governing section
- Horry County Code 13-32
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county
- Max penalty (Sec. 1-8)
- $500 / 30 days
Summary
In unincorporated Horry County, playing a radio, stereo, instrument, or other sound device between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. so it is audible 50 feet away is prohibited under Code Sec. 13-32. At all hours, excessive or unusually loud noise that disturbs others is unlawful.
The operation of such set, instrument, machine or device between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in such a manner as to be audible at a distance of fifty (50) feet shall be prohibited unless operated in an established amusement theme park subject to the provisions of section 13-35.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 88).
Full Breakdown
Horry County's noise-control ordinance (Chapter 13, Article III) governs the large unincorporated areas such as Socastee, Carolina Forest, and Garden City; incorporated cities like Myrtle Beach and Conway have their own codes. Section 13-32(a) broadly bans any excessive, unnecessary, or unusually loud noise that annoys, disturbs, or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace, or safety of others. Section 13-32(b)(2) sets the practical nighttime quiet-hour rule: operating a radio, musical instrument, phonograph, or other sound-reproducing device between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. so as to be audible at 50 feet is prohibited, unless in an established amusement theme park under Section 13-35. Yelling, shouting, or singing on public streets between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. is likewise cited under 13-32(b)(4).
Violations & Fines
A noise violation is a misdemeanor. Under general-penalty Section 1-8, the fine may not exceed $500 or 30 days, or both, and each day is a separate offense. Horry County Police handle nuisance-noise complaints.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are quiet hours in unincorporated Horry County?
Do these hours apply inside Myrtle Beach?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Horry County
How Horry County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Horry County to another location·View the South Carolina noise ordinances overview
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