What time do noisy neighbors have to stop shooting fireworks? Here are Midlands laws

Nothing says patriotism like pyrotechnics in your backyard.

Across the Midlands, you can expect to hear crackles and booms nightly around the July 4 holiday. You might love setting off fireworks, but, well, some of your neighbors might not love the never-ending symphony.

A number of Midlands cities, towns and counties have laws dictating cutoff times for setting off fireworks on the Fourth. Some of these differ from the laws on other nights of the year.

Here’s a rundown of when laws say you must stop setting off fireworks in different places in the Midlands:

Batesburg-Leesville — 10 p.m. on July 4 (1 a.m. on Jan. 1)

Blythewood — No time restrictions.

Cayce — 10 p.m. on July 4 (1 a.m. on Jan. 1)

Chapin — 11 p.m. on July 4. Fireworks are not allowed to be set off in the city limits on other nights.

Columbia — There is no citywide ordinance specifically for fireworks, but Columbia follows its noise ordinance dealing with unreasonably loud or disruptive noises. If a resident calls in a complaint about fireworks at any time and it’s deemed to be a nuisance, police may respond, according to city officials.

Forest Acres — No time restrictions.

Irmo — Midnight on July 4 (1 a.m. on Jan. 1)

Lexington — Midnight on July 4. The town’s noise ordinance normally kicks in at 9 p.m., but officials extend that time on July 4 and New Year’s Eve, according to a police spokesperson.

Lexington County — No time restrictions, though noise complaints will be evaluated on a case-by-base basis, according to a sheriff’s department spokesman.

Richland County — 1 a.m.

West Columbia — 11 p.m. on July 4 (1:30 a.m. on Jan. 1)

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to clarify Columbia’s policy.

This story was originally published December 31, 2018 at 11:32 AM.