Jacksonville Beach, FL Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)

Section 18-3(g) lists the uses and activities exempt from noise level regulations, and item (9) is the aircraft exemption. It covers any aircraft operated in conformity with, or pursuant to, federal law, federal air regulations, and air traffic control instruction used within the duly adopted federal air regulations. The exemption runs to "the provisions of this chapter," so the entire noise chapter is switched off for conforming flights, not just the decibel table. A second sentence extends it to aircraft operating under technical difficulties in any kind of distress, under emergency orders of air traffic control, or after a declaration of an emergency under federal regulations.

The rest of Chapter 18 shows what the exemption removes. Section 18-3(a) sets daytime at 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and nighttime at 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. in residential use occupancies, and defines plainly audible as any sound that can be heard clearly by a person using unaided hearing. Under § 18-5, the city manager or a designated official issues a notice of noise violation, the person responsible must instantly comply, and a person who does not reduce the noise within a reasonable time is arrested and punished under § 1-11. Each day is a separate offense, and three convictions within twelve months for the same type of noise emitter can cost the offender the emitter.

Where aircraft are regulated is landing and takeoff. Section 16-8 makes it unlawful to start, take off, alight from, or land any aircraft or helicopter within the city limits, except emergency and governmental aircraft, and it states that nothing in it conflicts with Federal Aviation Administration rules. Special permits for special circumstances are issued by the city council. Section 6-2 bars starting, taking off or alighting in an airplane on any part of the ocean beach, with written city manager permission available on extraordinary occasions, one flight per permit.