rs will face new enforcement standards this summer under Clarendon County’s revised noise ordinance, which removes the use of decibel meters and grants deputies greater discretion in handling complaints.
Sheriff Tim Baxley addressed the ordinance changes during the April 14 Clarendon County Council meeting, where council members unanimously approved the second reading of the updated ordinance following a formal amendment to include newly defined exemptions.
“The only thing that has changed is the exemptions,” said Baxley. “We’ve taken the decibel meter out. Nobody regulates them. They’re not calibrated. It becomes word against word. So we’re using officer discretion—just like we do now when we get a noise complaint.”
The change comes after more than a year of review, prompted by rising complaints about music and loud gatherings—particularly at the popular sandbar area on Lake Marion. Deputies will now evaluate the situation based on personal observation and community standards, rather than objective readings from decibel devices.
“Our biggest problem is like the sandbar at Lake Marion,” Baxley told council. “There’s a lot of boats that sit there playing very obscene music—loud and offensive. Sound carries on water, and it can be heard all around the lake.”
Under the new ordinance, deputies will respond to noise complaints and use their judgment to determine whether the volume or content is disruptive enough to warrant a warning or citation. Baxley emphasized that in most cases, warnings have been effective.
“Captain Morris can tell you how many calls we’ve answered and how many tickets we’ve actually written,” Baxley said. “Normally, we warn the people—and that usually takes care of our problem.”
NEW EXEMPTIONS OUTLINED
The revised ordinance includes a number of exemptions to protect routine activities and county events. Specifically, the following are now explicitly exempt from enforcement under the ordinance:
-Normal lawn care and farming activities
-Authorized emergency response operations
-Emergency warning devices or systems
-Aircraft and airport-related noise
-Hunting activities regulated by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
-Public performances, parades, or events conducted or sponsored by the county or school districts
The removal of the decibel meter was a decision backed by surrounding counties as well. Baxley said that neighboring jurisdictions, especially those with recreational lakes, no longer use decibel readers due to their inaccuracy and ease of public purchase.
“We checked with several counties around us, especially the ones that had lakes. Nobody uses them anymore,” he said.
Instead, deputies will be trained to recognize potentially offensive or disruptive noise, especially content that could be considered obscene in family or public settings.
SUMMER ENFORCEMENT EXPECTED TO REMAIN MEASURED
The sheriff’s office indicated it will continue to rely heavily on community cooperation and education during peak lake season. While citations are possible, Baxley and his team hope continued warnings and patrols will be sufficient to reduce the number of incidents.
“If we hear something that’s over the line, we’ll address it,” Baxley said. “But our goal isn’t to write tickets—it’s to maintain the peace.”
Councilman Jay Johnson acknowledged the challenge of balancing recreation with respect for residents and visitors alike. No objections were raised during the public hearing portion of the meeting.
The ordinance is expected to undergo a third and final reading in May before it officially takes effect. In the meantime, deputies are preparing for increased lake patrols as warmer weather draws more visitors to the area.
