Rochester, NY Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)

The O-A Overlay Airport District under City Code Article XIII protects flight paths and safety around the Rochester - Monroe County Airport. It has an inner section within one mile of the airport boundary and within the instrument-runway approach-departure corridors out to three miles from the runway ends and one mile wide, plus an outer section covering the rest of the city (§ 120-97). Structures that would pierce the district's imaginary height plane, which starts at 40 feet within 8,000 feet of the airport location point and steps up to 400 feet beyond 25,000 feet (§ 120-99), need a variance (§ 120-102) or, beyond 25,000 feet, a special permit (§ 120-103).

Both processes require the applicant to submit the FAA's current Part 77 advisory determination and a written statement on flight-pattern impact, then send the file to the Monroe County Department of Planning and Development, County Public Works, County Law Department and the airport operator for review under § 120-188 procedures. That review explicitly covers flight patterns, airport operations, the environment and changes in aircraft noise contours. If the FAA or county report flags an effect on flight patterns or airport operations, the Director of Zoning and Permitting must publish notice before the hearing, and the deciding board (Zoning Board of Appeals for variances, Planning Commission for special permits) can attach marker and lighting conditions but cannot approve the application unless the applicant establishes it will not adversely affect resident health and safety or raise noise levels in the city.

Any tree, shrub or other natural growth in the overlay district that impairs visibility or exceeds the height limit can also be declared a flight hazard and ordered removed or trimmed at the owner's expense under § 120-100.