Horry County Code 13-32 bans discharging a vehicle, motorcycle, or engine exhaust into the open air except through an effective muffler, and prohibits unnecessary horn or signaling-device use. South Carolina law (S.C. Code 56-5-4970) also requires every motor vehicle to have a working muffler with no cutout or bypass.
Vehicle noise is addressed in Section 13-32(b). Subsection (b)(5) makes it a prohibited noise to discharge the exhaust of any steam engine, stationary internal-combustion engine, motor boat, or motor vehicle into the open air except through a muffler that effectively prevents loud or explosive noise, reaching loud aftermarket exhausts and straight pipes. Subsection (b)(1) bars sounding a horn or signaling device except as a danger warning, and prohibits exhaust-operated horns. These rules complement statewide S.C. Code 56-5-4970, which requires every motor vehicle to have a working muffler and prohibits cutouts, bypasses, or amplifying devices. Horry County publishes a dedicated summary of how the ordinance applies to motorcycles and motor vehicles.
Loud-exhaust and horn violations are misdemeanor noise offenses citable by Horry County Police under Sec. 13-32 (up to $500 or 30 days under Sec. 1-8). A bypassed muffler is separately a state offense under S.C. Code 56-5-4970.
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