Quiet hours in Summerville, SC — also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time — define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Unincorporated Dorchester County bans unreasonably loud or disturbing noise under County Code Sec. 28-2 with no fixed decibel limit or quiet hours, judged by character, intensity, and duration. Fireworks are barred 10 p.m. to 10 a.m., and Summerville runs its own noise ordinance.
Dorchester County zones and polices its unincorporated Lowcountry under South Carolina's home-rule grant. Its noise rule, Sec. 28-2, sets no fixed decibel cap or clock-based quiet hours; instead it bans any unreasonably loud or disturbing noise detrimental to health or causing physical discomfort to a person of ordinary sensibilities. Sheriff's deputies judge it by character, intensity, and duration, with the state disorderly-conduct law (S.C. Code §16-17-530) as a backstop. The one hard night rule is fireworks: Sec. 28-7 bars them from 10:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. Summerville runs its own detailed noise ordinance inside town limits.
A noise violation under Sec. 28-2 is a misdemeanor; Sec. 1-8 sets the penalty at a fine up to $500 or 30 days, with each day a separate offense.
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