Columbia, South Carolina, is where Hootie and his blowfish got their start. In fact, they practiced in the storage sheds at Sumter Street Self-Storage in Columbia. Known as "The Sheds," the units have been home to music practice for two decades

Question

However, since the 1994 climb to fame of Hootie, the storage area has become the home to almost 139 weekend and evening jammers and rehearsal sessions, much to the chagrin of the neighbors. The neighbors began a campaign to shut down the music practice. Nuisance did not work because the bands had to stop playing at 10 p.m. The neighbors then turned to fire codes. That battle ended with the city concluding that the use of the sheds for practice violated city fire code. However, the ruling that the music stop was appealed and the music continued, with new fire extinguishers. Neighbors appealed and a court ruled that new wiring was required if the bands were to continue. The owner does not want to undertake the expense and a sign on the gate reads, "No band practice." What laws govern this situation?

Answer 1

Local zoning ordinances would apply. There would also be the local fire code that would be applicable. There may be some private law involved through covenants. Also, there is the private law of the leases for the commercial storage units. There would also be the common law doctrine of nuisance applicable to the situation because of the noise factors for the neighbors.