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Rock Hill, SC Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)

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

Quiet hours in Rock Hill, SC, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.

Key Facts

Governing section
City Code § 20-162(16)
Flagged overnight window
11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Covers
Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling, singing
Location
Public streets, named specifically
Daytime reach
Any time it disturbs a home or office
Max penalty
$500 fine or 30 days, § 1-11

Summary

Rock Hill's noise code specifically flags yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing on public streets between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. as a prohibited disturbing noise under City Code § 20-162(16). The same clause reaches similar noise at any hour if it disturbs the quiet or repose of people in a home, office or hotel.

(16) Yelling, shouting, etc. Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing on the public streets, particularly between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., or at any time or place so as to annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of persons in any office or in any dwelling, hotel or other type of residence, or of any persons in the vicinity.

Full Breakdown

," is a violation. window is the period the Code calls out as the presumptively sensitive one, not the only time a complaint can be made. It sits inside § 20-162, the list of specific acts declared to violate the general nuisance-noise prohibition in § 20-161, which bars any "unreasonably loud, disturbing noise" that disturbs the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others anywhere in the city. in residential blocks, and § 20-162(18) sets the general 60 dB residential lot-line cap around the clock. The Rock Hill Police Department responds to yelling and street-noise complaints and can issue a municipal court summons.

Violations & Fines

A violation of § 20-162(16) carries the Code's general penalty under § 1-11: a fine of up to $500.00, imprisonment up to 30 days, or both, with continuing conduct on separate nights or occasions charged as separate offenses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Rock Hill have set quiet hours at night?
There's no single quiet-hours ordinance, but § 20-162(16) specifically names 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. as the window when yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing on public streets is a prohibited noise, and the same rule can apply at other hours if it disturbs a home or office.
Can I be cited for loud talking or singing on the sidewalk after 11 p.m. in Rock Hill?
Yes. Section 20-162(16) lists yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing on public streets between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. as a specific example of a prohibited disturbing noise under the city's general noise ordinance.
Who enforces Rock Hill's overnight noise rules?
The Rock Hill Police Department responds to complaints under Chapter 20, Division 2 - Noise, and violations are heard in Rock Hill Municipal Court, where the general penalty in § 1-11 (up to $500 or 30 days) applies.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Rock Hill

All Rock Hill rules

How Rock Hill compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Rock Hill to another location·View the South Carolina noise ordinances overview

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