Birmingham, AL Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Exempt source
- Birmingham International Airport operations
- Governing section
- City Code Sec. 11-8-25(3)
- Scope
- Unconditional exemption, no hours limit
- Local penalty for airport noise
- None under Chapter 8
- Other recourse
- Airport Authority / FAA, not city code
Summary
Birmingham's noise ordinance does not reach the airport: Sec. 11-8-25(3) exempts noise from the operation of Birmingham International Airport outright, so flight operations, ground equipment and related airport noise cannot be cited under the city's general noise article.
The provisions of this article shall not apply to: ... (3)Noise resulting from the operation of the Birmingham International Airport;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 3).
Full Breakdown
Article B of Chapter 8, the city's general noise ordinance, otherwise prohibits a wide range of loud or disturbing sounds under Sec. 11-8-21 and lists specific prohibited acts at Sec. 11-8-23, from car horns to construction equipment to loudspeakers. But Sec. within 50 feet of a residential district, for example). That means the city's noise nuisance standard in Sec. 11-8-21, the plainly-audible thresholds in Sec. 11-8-23(8) (50 feet from a structure, ten feet from a vehicle), and the balancing factors in Sec. 11-8-24 (proximity to sleeping areas, time of night, duration) do not apply to sound generated by airport operations.
R. Part 150 noise compatibility programs), which operate independently of this municipal exemption. Residents near the airport who are disturbed by flight noise have no local ordinance remedy through Chapter 8; any recourse runs through the airport authority or federal aviation channels, not a city noise citation.
Violations & Fines
None: Sec. 11-8-25(3) removes airport-generated noise from the article's coverage, so there is no municipal citation, fine, or penalty that applies to it under Chapter 8. The general penalty at Sec. 1-1-6 (up to $500.00 fine and/or six months) governs the article's other prohibited acts but has no application here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file a Birmingham noise complaint against airport flight noise?
Does the 50-foot plainly audible rule apply to airport ground equipment?
Is the airport noise exemption limited to certain hours?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Birmingham
Compare Birmingham to another location·View the Alabama noise ordinances overview
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