Southampton Village, NY Noise from Specific Sources: Bar & Nightclub Noise (2026)

The core rule is in § 116-23B of the Southampton Village Code, which lists the special conditions for special exception uses. Under § 116-23A, the Board of Appeals cannot authorize a building permit for a listed use unless it specifically finds that the use meets the general standards of § 116-22 and the special conditions in the section.

For a nightclub or similar entertainment establishment, item (15) requires a location not less than 1,000 feet from any church, school, playground or park, hospital, nursing home, proprietary rest home or similar public or semipublic facility, and not less than 500 feet from any residence district in an incorporated Village without the approval of the Village Board of Trustees. There can be no outdoor public-address or music system, all entertainment activities must be completely screened from view from outside the site, and premises and structures must be arranged and designed to contain any sound emanating from activities within the bounds of the premises.

For a tavern, bar or restaurant, item (21) sets a 500-foot separation from any church, school, playground, park, hospital, nursing or proprietary rest home or similar public and semipublic place, and from any residential district in an incorporated Village without Board of Trustees approval. There can be no outdoor public-address or music system, no live entertainment on the premises, and the same sound-containment design requirement applies. Outdoor dining in the VB District under item (25) adds that no outdoor music or sound amplified from the interior of the building is allowed, and its special exception expires on January 1 of the year following issuance.

Chapter 77 backs this up. Section 77-2B treats amplified sound on the exterior of any premises as noise pollution prohibited at all times, except noncommercial amplified sound between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. that stays within the § 77-3 standard. Section 77-3 caps airborne sound measured at or beyond a lot line in a residential district at 65 dBA from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and 50 dBA from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., with octave-band alternatives. Under § 77-1, music or sound devices plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet that disturb neighbors interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life and property. Section 77-5 rebuttably presumes that anyone present with several persons whose collective behavior constitutes noise pollution took part.