HOA Fireworks Message


Did you receive an email yesterday from the HOA office about a Richland County fireworks ordinance?

Would it surprise you to learn that Richland County DOES NOT have a fireworks ordinance? It doesn't.

On July 6, 2022, the office emailed homeowners (and residents?) the following message:

"Good morning!  We would like to address the many complaints that we have received regarding fireworks in the neighborhoods.  
 
"The Summit and its residents adhere to the Richland County Ordinance regarding fireworks, which reads:
Fireworks shall only be allowed on Friday and Saturday between the hours of 8:00 p.m. 11:59 p.m. Provided, however, on the days of July 4 and December 31 only, noise from fireworks may extend until 1:00 a.m. of the next day. (de) This section shall be enforced by the county sheriff's department. *   [emphasis in the original]
 
"We ask that all residents abide by this ordinance, and to please exercise caution when shooting fireworks.  There have been several fires in the community as a result of fireworks.  For any further questions or to report any concerns, please call the office at 803-865-0609.  If it's after office hours, you may call the non-emergency RCSD line at 803-252-2911."
 
No doubt the message was well-intended, but it is incorrect.

The message is about "fireworks". Richland County does not have a fireworks ordinance. The HOA's own CAT officer, Deputy Cuzzupe, was quoted two years ago, when he told WACH-TV, “The county doesn't have any ordinances specifically against fireworks. We do have a noise ordinance that can be enforced any time of the day.” 

What Richland County does have is a noise law. County Ordinances, Section 18-3(a) Noise is about noise, not fireworks. It can be read here.

* The above portion that is in bold type appears to have been copied from the internet, without citation. Back in about 2014 the County may have considered a draft of a fireworks ordinance, but it was never passed.

A manager in the Richland County Ombudsman office emailed me today: "Thank you for contacting the Ombudsman’s Office. There is not a Richland County fireworks ordinance."

It is important that an "official message" from the HOA be correct. Yesterday's was not. Will a corrected message be sent?

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