Council advances noise‑control amendment to limit construction to 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Monday–Saturday

The Hilton Head Island Town Council on Feb. 4 advanced a change to the municipal noise ordinance that narrows the hours for construction and other related activity to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, excluding specified holidays.

Planning Director Missy Lueck told council the amendment responds to complaints about construction noise spilling into adjacent properties and seeks to align the town’s daytime construction hours with those used inside many planned development communities. Under the proposed change, “daytime” as it relates to construction would be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (the staff proposal initially allowed “sunset” as an alternative); council amended the proposal during debate to specify a strict 7 a.m.–7 p.m. window.

Council and staff discussed how the ordinance applies to commercial contractors and to noncommercial private‑property activity such as a homeowner mowing a lawn: the revision retains an exemption for noncommercial activity, and Lueck said the change actually adds one hour (previously noncommercial private activity was limited to 7 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday–Saturday) while preserving noise‑level limits referenced in the code. Council members also raised questions about whether the change would conflict with existing private planned‑community (POA/PUD) covenants; staff said the town ordinance applies across the town and that planned communities with their own rules would also need to be in compliance with town regulations.

Council discussed the operational side — how exceptions would be granted for emergencies or specialized events, and whether the town manager could grant permits for necessary work outside the hours. Town staff and the town attorney said the ordinance includes an exceptions process by permit for urgent public‑safety or convenience needs and that the town manager could issue such permits.

After debate, Councilmember Steve Alfred moved, and Councilwoman Tammy Becker seconded, to advance first reading with a change specifying 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Council voted 7–0 to move the ordinance forward for the second reading with that revision.

Why it matters: the amendment reduces evening construction hours compared with the current daytime window, aligns municipal rules with many gated planned communities and codifies exemptions and a permitting pathway for emergencies or special events. The change will affect contractors, landscapers, and residents outside gated communities and is designed to standardize expectations across the island.