Manatee County, FL Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Aircraft exemption
- Sec. 2-21-33(8) exempts FAA-regulated aircraft entirely
- Daytime limit
- 60 dBA / 65 dBC, 7 a.m.-11 p.m. weeknights
- Nighttime limit
- 55 dBA / 60 dBC, 11 p.m.-7 a.m.
- First offense
- $100 civil fine or misdemeanor notice to appear
- Repeat offense
- up to $500 for third violation in 365 days
- Enforcement agency
- Sheriff's Office and County Code Enforcement
Summary
Aircraft operating under federal air regulations are exempt from Manatee County's noise ordinance in the unincorporated county, under Sec. 2-21-33(8) of the county Code. The exemption sits inside a broader noise-disturbance law enforced by the Sheriff's Office and County Code Enforcement, which otherwise caps residential sound at 60 dBA daytime and 55 dBA overnight and carries escalating civil fines up to $500.
The following activities or sources are exempt from the requirements of this article: ... (8)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.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 124 | Land Development Code: Supplement 21).
Full Breakdown
Manatee County's noise ordinance, codified at Sections 2-21-31 through 2-21-35, applies "to and embrace[s] the unincorporated area of the county" under Sec. 2-21-32. " A plane, helicopter, or drone flying under FAA rules cannot be cited for noise here even if a resident measures it above the county's own decibel caps. ), and railroad operations. Outside the exemption list, the article defines "noise disturbance" as sound that "may disturb, annoy, or be harmful or injurious to the health or welfare of a reasonable person of ordinary sensibilities" or that exceeds the numeric limits in Sec.
on weeknights, extending to midnight on weekends, and 55 dBA (60 dBC) overnight. Enforcement under Sec. 2-21-35 runs through the Manatee County Sheriff's Office and County Code Enforcement, both designated code enforcement officers under Chapter 162, Florida Statutes. " Contested citations go to the county's code enforcement special magistrate or county court.
Violations & Fines
A first noise violation outside the exemptions draws a $100 civil fine or a notice to appear as a second-degree misdemeanor under Section 775.082, Florida Statutes; a second violation within 365 days rises to $250, and a third or subsequent violation reaches $500 plus court costs and fees. Refusing to sign a citation is itself a second-degree misdemeanor under Chapter 162, Florida Statutes. Aircraft covered by Sec. 2-21-33(8) cannot be cited at all, regardless of the decibel reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Manatee County's noise ordinance cover airplane or helicopter noise?
What noise levels apply to everything else in unincorporated Manatee County?
Who enforces the noise ordinance and how quickly must I fix a violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Manatee County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Manatee County to another location·View the Florida noise ordinances overview
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