Picketing & Peaceful Protest Laws

Greenville County

List of Cities and Towns in Greenville County: Cleveland, Conestee, Fountain Inn, Greenville, Greer, Marietta, Mauldin, Piedmont, Simpsonville, Slater, Taylors, Tigerville, Travelers Rest

1. Link to Picketing Permits | Greenville, SC – Official Website
2. Link to Greenville Picketing Ordinance
3. Link to Picketing Permit Application

An organizer of a picket that the organizer knows or should reasonably know will be by a group of a size set forth in this table shall give at lest the corresponding minimum advance notice of intent to picket set forth in this table: 

SUMMARY

The following is a summary of the regulations governing picketing activity in the City of Greenville. For a more complete recitation of those regulations, please refer to Section 36-142 of the Code of Ordinances.

RECEIPT OF NOTICE

• The organizer of a picket, or the person designated in the notice of intent to picket as the one who will carry the receipt of notice, shall be responsible for maintaining the receipt and shall present it when so requested by a law enforcement officer or other city official.

CONDUCT OF PICKETING

• Picketing may be conducted only on the sidewalks, on the grounds of a city-controlled park or plaza, or in other city-owned areas or rights-of-way normally used or reserved for pedestrian movement and may not be conducted on the portion of the street used primarily for vehicular traffic.
• Picketers on sidewalks or on rights-of-way normally used or reserved for pedestrian movement must march or stand single file and not congregate so as to block any sidewalk, driveway, or business entrance.

SIGN LIMITATIONS

• Signs may not exceed 1/32” in thickness.
• Signs composed of paper, cardboard, poster board, or similar material may not exceed 20” x 30” or 600 square inches.
• Signs composed of cloth, vinyl, or similar material may not exceed 4’ x 6’.
• Signs may not interfere with the free use of the sidewalk or rights-of-way by pedestrians.

PROHIBITED ITEMS

The following items are prohibited in the immediate proximity of pickets:

• Open flames and combustible solids;
• Sticks, poles, selfie sticks, or other similar elongated solid objects capable of inflicting bodily harm as a striking or stabbing object, excluding commercially available corrugated cardboard tubing as the supporting article for signs, flags, and the like;
• Backpacks, satchels, bags, coolers, or similar personally carried containers exceeding 6” x 8” x 3”, except when said container is completely clear and see through;
• Any firearm or ammunition except as permitted by the South Carolina Code of Laws;
• Any mechanical or handmade contrivance that launches any projectile of solid, liquid, or gaseous composition, including aerosols/pressurized canisters;
• Any stabbing, cutting, slicing, or striking blade, whether of metal or other solid composition;
• Any striking object, such as a bat, stick, brass knuckles, martial arts weapons, implement handles and the like, which would inflict bodily injury;
• Any facial mask, headgear, or cloth worn over any portion of the face which prevents facial identification of a person 14 years of age or older;
• Any carried object that resembles or serves the purpose of a shield;
• Any armor or defensive covering that resembles or serves the purpose of defensive body armor;
• Carried signage exceeding the size restrictions set forth in subsection 36-142(a)(3); and
• Bicycles, automobiles, and mopeds.

Spartanburg County

List of Cities and Towns within Spartanburg County: Arcadia, Boiling Springs, Campobello, Chesnee, Clifton, Converse, Spartanburg, Woodruff, Lyman, Duncan, Wellford

1. Permit Requirement Link 
2. Picketing and Additional Permit Requirements Link
3. Outdoor Assemblies Link
4. Prohibition of Open Carry Link

Anderson County

Cities and Towns in Anderson County: Anderson, Belton, Easley, Honea Path, Pelzer, Williamston

Links to Anderson Permit Requirements & Picketing City Codes

SUMMARY

Permit required for picketing under subsection 70-160(b); 

• Organizer must submit permit application to the city manager or his designee in a form approved by the city manager and in accordance with the time limits and guidelines established in the link to the Table in 70-160.1.
• Permit must be carried by permit recipient or other designated person during event.
• The organizer of a picket, or the person designated in the permit as the one who will carry the permit shall be responsible for posting conspicuous signage at the picketing location informing participants that the open carry of firearms is prohibited for the duration of the picket.

Places – so long as no obstruction is caused and a permit is obtained from the City Manager; picketing is allowed on sidewalks, city-controlled parks or plazas, or in other city-owned areas or rights-of-way normally used for pedestrian movement, and may not be conducted on the portion of a street used primarily for vehicular traffic.

• Must march or stand single file and not congregate so as to block any sidewalk, driveway, or business entrance.

Carried sign requirements – paper, cardboard, poster board, cloth, vinyl, or similarly non-rigid material not larger than 20 in. by 30 in. or 600 square in. No sticks or poles except corrugated cardboard.

Posted large banners & signs must not exceed 4 ft. by 6 ft. in the case of signs composed of cloth, vinyl, or a similar material.

Clear bag policy – only allow clear bags, backpacks, coolers that do not exceed 6 in. by 8 in. by 3 in.

No masks – no facial masks, headgear, or cloth worn over any portion of the face which prevents facial identification of a person 14 years of age or older.

No Weapons – Indivisible Upstate SC does not endorse the carrying of weapons, including but not limited to projectile weapons (i.e. guns), knives, pepper spray, or similar during peaceful protests. See Section 1.c. above.

No bicycles, mopeds, or automobiles allowed.