The following ordinance was passed by the Little Mountain Town Council with a first reading on October 18 and a second reading on Nov. 0, 2021.
AN ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE IN THE MUNICPAL CODE OF THE TOWN OF LITTLE MOUNTAIN, TITLE 9, SECTION 16, A NOISE ORDIANCE.
WHEREAS, The Town of Little Mountain recognizes that loud sounds crossing outdoor private property boundaries can compromise the physical and emotional health and welfare of people, interfere with communication in business and recreation, interfere with sleep, depress property values and create a public nuisance.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it ordained by the Town Council of Little Mountain, SC. that the following requirements are hereby adopted:
- It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully disturb any neighborhood or business in the municipality by making or continuing loud or unreasonably loud noises, or by profanely cursing and swearing, or using obscene language. It shall further be unlawful for any person to willfully disturb any neighborhood or business within the Town of Little Mountain using words which threaten or tend to threaten or incite physical violence, or which endanger or tend to endanger the health and safety of others within the town.
- The use of horns, radios, phonographs, loudspeakers, amplifiers, whistles, exhausts, blowers, or other devices which cause loud or irritating noises which are plainly audible from fifty (50) feet from its source shall be considered prima facie evidence of a violation of subsection (a) unless such device was used as a danger warning or in some similar emergency or a permit granted. This includes devises in any public park or in any other outdoor public
- The loud playing of radios, phonographs, tape decks, amplifiers, and loudspeakers, fireworks, and other sound devices in any public park or in any other outdoor public place, including from vehicles, the sound and/or noise of which is substantially audible to fifty (50) feet or more, shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of subsection (a).
- There shall be no violation under subsection (c) for special events/holidays provided a permit is first obtained from the Town Clerk.
(F) Sounds and activity normally associated with uses and/or special events, for which a temporary permit has been issued do not constitute noise as defined herein. Additionally, noise related to construction and repair of public roadways, public works projects and other projects permitted by the town is not a violation of this section.
It is further ordained by the Town Council of the Town of Little Mountain that this ordinance will be included in the municipal code of Little Mountain, Title 9, Section 16. All Ordinances in conflict with this Ordinance are hereby repealed.
DONE AND RATIFIED in Council assembled on this 18th day of October 2021.