Albany County, NY Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Curfew window
- No engine maintenance/testing, 2300-0600 hours
- First-offense penalty
- Up to $5,000 civil penalty
- Repeat penalty
- Up to $5,000 more per occurrence
- Enforcement
- Mass Transit Committee + County Attorney
- Adopted
- 9-14-1992, Res. No. 488-1992
- Related duty
- § 315-7(FF) general noise-abatement compliance
Summary
Albany County bars aircraft engine maintenance and testing at Albany County Airport between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. under Code § 315-14, adopted in 1992 after the County Legislature found the noise disrupted sleep in the densely populated neighborhoods surrounding the Airport. Violators face a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per occurrence, enforced by the Mass Transit Committee.
In furtherance of the policy of the State of New York, it shall hereby be a regulation of the Albany County Airport that, unless specifically authorized by the Airport Director or the Airport Manager or their designated representatives, no aircraft engine shall be started or operated between 2300 and 0600 hours on Albany County Airport property for the purpose of maintenance and/or testing of such aircraft, except that the testing and/or maintenance of those aircraft engines necessary for arrival or departure of such aircraft during the hours of 2300 to 0600 shall be permitted, and except in the event of a life-threatening emergency, or in the event that any agent, company or corporation has a current properly authorized contract in force with the Albany County Airport which specifically states that the agent, company or corporation may operate an aircraft engine for the purpose of maintenance and/or testing within the hours of 2300 and 0600.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4022468; v11 updated 2024-07-21).
Full Breakdown
Article II of Chapter 315 (Airport), adopted September 14, 1992 by Resolution No. 488-1992, imposes a night-time curfew on aircraft engine maintenance and testing at Albany County Airport. fix civil penalties for the violation of such regulations" at a county airport. The operative rule, § 315-14, bars starting or running any aircraft engine on Airport property between 2300 and 0600 hours for maintenance or testing, unless the Airport Director, Airport Manager, or a designated representative specifically authorizes it. Three carve-outs remain: engine work necessary for an aircraft's actual arrival or departure during those hours, life-threatening emergencies, and operators holding a current Airport-authorized contract expressly permitting maintenance/testing runs inside the curfew window.
Section 315-15 requires the restriction to be written into every future Airport lease, contract, or agreement as a condition of use. This curfew is distinct from, but complements, the general noise-abatement duty in § 315-7(FF), which requires aircraft operators, "particularly jet aircraft," to apply "reasonable noise abatement procedures and techniques" and comply with any noise rules the County promulgates from time to time.
Violations & Fines
Breaching the quiet-hours curfew is a civil offense under § 315-16, punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 for a first occurrence, with each additional separate occurrence drawing a further penalty of up to $5,000. Per § 315-17, the Mass Transit Committee, assisted by the Office of the County Attorney, is responsible for monitoring and enforcing the regulation, and the Albany County Legislature must approve every civil penalty imposed on an operator, agent, company, or corporation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hours are aircraft engine maintenance restricted at Albany County Airport?
Why did Albany County adopt the airport quiet-hours law?
What happens if an operator violates the curfew?
Does the curfew cover all aircraft noise, or just engine maintenance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Albany County
New York rules heatmap·Compare Albany County to another location·View the New York noise ordinances overview
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