Vermont municipalities cannot regulate aircraft operations or in-flight noise because federal law preempts the field. The FAA controls airspace, flight paths, and operational noise standards uniformly across Vermont under federal aviation statutes.
Aircraft noise regulation in Vermont is governed by the federal Aviation Act and FAA rules, which preempt state and local laws affecting aircraft operations, routes, and altitudes. Vermont's aeronautics statutes at 5 V.S.A. chapter 9 recognize federal supremacy over flight operations. Local ordinances purporting to limit overflights, helicopter routes, or in-air noise are unenforceable. Airport proprietors, including state-owned facilities, may impose reasonable, non-discriminatory ground-based noise rules such as curfews when acting in their proprietary capacity. Complaints about persistent aircraft noise should be directed to the FAA Noise Portal or the airport operator rather than local police.
No local penalties may apply to aircraft in flight; airport-adopted ground rules may carry fines set by the airport operator under federal grant assurances.
Burlington, VT
Burlington's Comprehensive Development Ordinance limits fences in the First Lot Layer (front yard) to 4 feet and fences in Second and Third Lot Layers (side ...
Burlington, VT
Burlington Comprehensive Development Ordinance (CDO) Article 5 treats storage sheds as accessory structures incidental to a residential use. Sheds may encroa...
Burlington, VT
Burlington's short-term rental ordinance (Chapter 18, adopted 2022) requires hosts to disclose at registration the number of vehicles used by residents and g...
Burlington, VT
Burlington short-term rental hosts must comply with citywide noise rules in Burlington Code of Ordinances Chapter 21, Section 21-13. Quiet hours run 10:00 p....
Burlington, VT
Residential swimming pool barriers in Burlington are governed by the Vermont Fire and Building Safety Code, adopted by the Vermont Division of Fire Safety un...
Burlington, VT
Burlington permits one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) by right on any lot containing an owner-occupied single-family dwelling, under Section 5.4.5 of the Burl...
See how Burlington's aircraft noise rules stack up against other locations.
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