SOUND TRUCKS

Charleston, S.C., City Code ch. 21, art. II, div. 2

in effect

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 21-26 Definitions.

Sec. 21-26. - Definitions. For the purposes of this article, the following words and terms shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section: Sound-amplifying equipment. The term "sound-amplifying equipment" shall be taken to mean any machine or device for the amplification of the human voice, music or any other sound; provided, however, that, such term shall not be construed to include standard automobile radios when used and heard only by occupants of the vehicle in which installed or warning devices on authorized emergency vehicles or horns or other warning devices on other vehicles used only for traffic safety purposes. Sound truck. The term "sound truck" shall be taken to mean any motor vehicle, horse-drawn vehicle, or any mode of transportation, having mounted thereon, attached thereto, or emitting therefrom, any sound-amplifying equipment. (Code 1975, § 36-5; Ord. No. 2023-041, § 1, 2-28-23)

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 21-27 Registration statement—Filing required.

Sec. 21-27. - Registration statement—Filing required. No person shall use, or cause to be used, a sound truck with its sound-amplifying equipment in operation in the city before filing a registration statement in writing and in duplicate with the chief of police. (Code 1975, § 36-6)

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 21-28 Same—Contents.

Sec. 21-28. - Same—Contents. The registration statement, the filing of which is required in section 21-27, shall state the following: (a) Name and home address of the applicant. (b) Address of place of business of applicant. (c) License number and motor number of the sound truck to be used by applicant. (d) Name and address of person who owns the sound truck. (e) Name and address of the person having direct charge of the sound truck. (f) Names and addresses of all persons who will use or operate the sound truck. (g) The purpose for which the sound truck will be used. (h) A general statement as to the section or sections of the city in which the sound truck will be used. (i) The proposed hours of operation of the sound truck. (j) The number of days of proposed operation of the sound truck. (k) A general description of the sound amplifying equipment which is to be used. (l) The maximum sound-producing power of the sound-amplifying equipment to be used in or on the sound truck. In regard to such maximum sound-producing power, this item shall contain a statement as to the following: (1) The wattage to be used. (2) The volume in decibels of the sound which will be produced. (3) The approximate maximum distance for which sound will be thrown from the sound truck. (Code 1975, § 36-7)

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 21-29 Same—Amendment.

Sec. 21-29. - Same—Amendment. All persons using sound trucks or causing them to be used, shall amend any registration statement filed pursuant to section 21-27 of this division within forty-eight (48) hours after any change in the information therein furnished. (Code 1975, § 36-8)

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 21-30 Same—Return to applicant of certified copy.

Sec. 21-30. - Same—Return to applicant of certified copy. The chief of police shall return to each applicant, under sections 21-27 and 21-28, one copy of his registration statement duly certified by the chief of police as a correct copy of the application in question. (Code 1975, § 36-9)

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 21-31 Same—Possession and display of certified statement.

Sec. 21-31. - Same—Possession and display of certified statement. A copy of the registration statement required by this article, certified as provided in section 21-29, shall be in the possession of any person operating the sound truck at all times while the sound truck's sound-amplifying equipment is in operation and such copy shall be promptly displayed and shown to any policeman of the city upon request. (Code 1975, § 36-10)

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 21-32 Applicability of division.

Sec. 21-32. - Applicability of division. Use of sound trucks in the city with sound amplifying equipment in operation shall be subject to the regulations set out in this division. (Code 1975, § 36-11)

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 21-33 Types of sound permitted.

Sec. 21-33. - Types of sound permitted. Pursuant to section 21-32, the only sounds permitted are music or human speech. (Code 1975, § 36-12)

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 21-34 Hours of operation.

Sec. 21-34. - Hours of operation. Pursuant to section 21-32, operations are permitted for four (4) hours each day, except on Sundays and legal holidays, when no operations shall be authorized. The permitted four (4) hours of operation shall be between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and between the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. (Code 1975, § 36-13)

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 21-35 Sound truck to maintain ten miles per hour.

Sec. 21-35. - Sound truck to maintain ten miles per hour. Sound-amplifying equipment shall not be operated unless the sound truck upon which such equipment is mounted is operated at a speed of at least ten (10) miles per hour, except when such truck is stopped or impeded by traffic. Where stopped by traffic such sound-amplifying equipment shall not be operated for longer than one minute at each stop. (Code 1975, § 36-14)

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 21-36 Operation near hospital, etc., prohibited.

Sec. 21-36. - Operation near hospital, etc., prohibited. Pursuant to section 21-32, sound shall not be issued within one hundred (100) yards of hospitals, schools, churches, courthouses or polling places. (Code 1975, § 36-15)

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 21-37 Profane or slanderous speech prohibited.

Sec. 21-37. - Profane or slanderous speech prohibited. Pursuant to section 21-32, the human speech and music amplified shall not be profane, lewd, indecent, or slanderous. (Code 1975, § 36-17)

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 21-38 Restrictions on volume of sound.

Sec. 21-38. - Restrictions on volume of sound. The volume of sound shall be controlled so that it will not be audible for a distance in excess of one hundred (100) feet from the sound truck and so that such volume is not unreasonably loud, raucous, jarring, disturbing or a nuisance to persons within the area of audibility. (Code 1975, § 36-18)

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 21-39 Limitation on wattage.

Sec. 21-39. - Limitation on wattage. No sound-amplifying equipment shall be operated with an excess of fifteen (15) watts of power in the last stage of amplification. (Code 1975, § 36-19)

Source: City of Charleston, South Carolina, Code of Ordinances and Zoning Ordinance (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/sc/charleston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CICO_CH21OF_ARTIINO_DIV2SOTRFetched: 11/7/2026