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Council advances noise ordinance amendment, narrows construction hours to 7 a.m.‑7 p.m.
Summary
On first reading the council agreed to amend the noise ordinance to limit most construction to Monday–Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with established exceptions for emergencies or permitted special events; the council voted 7–0 to move the amendment forward after removing a sunset clause option.
The Hilton Head Island Council advanced on first reading an amendment to the town noise ordinance that narrows allowable construction hours and clarifies exceptions.
Planning Director Missy Lueck told the council the proposed change would replace the existing daytime definition (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.) with construction hours limited generally to Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (the draft had originally included a ‘‘7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or sunset’’ formulation). The amendment aligns town construction hours with many planned‑development community rules and aims to reduce noise, vibration and dust impacts to adjacent properties.
Council members questioned whether the town standard would improperly supersede private planned‑unit development (PUD) or property‑owner association rules and how noncommercial activities (private homeowners mowing lawns) would be treated. Lueck said noncommercial activity remains in the exceptions and that the change is intended to make outside‑the‑gates experiences comparable to those behind gated PUDs. The ordinance retains a permitting process for exceptions and emergency work.
Outcome: After discussion the mayor and council amended the language to a strict 7 a.m.–7 p.m. time frame and voted to move the amendment forward for a second reading; the vote was unanimous (7–0).
Next: Staff will prepare the second reading and additional clarifying language on exceptions and enforcement to return to council.
