Aircraft operating under federal law and FAA air-traffic-control rules are exempt from Manatee County's noise ordinance. Aircraft noise is federally preempted, so the county does not set its own aircraft decibel limits; complaints go to the FAA or the airport.
Section 2-21-33(8) exempts 'any aircraft operating in conformity with, or pursuant to, federal law, federal air regulations and air traffic control instructions used pursuant to and within the duly adopted federal air regulations.' Aircraft noise is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration, not local ordinance, so Manatee County cannot impose curfews or decibel caps on compliant flights. Residents disturbed by aircraft or helicopter noise (including near Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, which straddles the county line) should direct complaints to the FAA or the airport's noise office rather than county code enforcement.
No county penalty applies to federally compliant aircraft; the exemption removes them from § 2-21-34/§ 2-21-35 enforcement entirely.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Manatee County's aircraft noise rules stack up against other locations.
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