Sampson County, NC Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)

Sampson County Code § 4-6-03(6) carves aircraft noise out of the county's general noise prohibition entirely: 'All noises coming from the normal operations of properly equipped aircraft (not including scale model aircraft)' are listed among the exceptions in § 4-6-03. That means a full-size, properly equipped airplane or helicopter operating normally near unincorporated Sampson County is not subject to the nuisance-noise standard set out in § 4-6-02, which otherwise bars any sound that annoys or disturbs a reasonable person of ordinary sensibilities. The parenthetical exclusion for 'scale model aircraft' means the exemption is limited to full-size, properly equipped aircraft; a model airplane, drone or similar device is not covered by this exception and remains subject to the general prohibition on loud, raucous and disturbing noise in § 4-6-02 if it disturbs a neighbor.

The exception sits alongside other categorical exemptions in § 4-6-03, such as those for trains, agricultural equipment and law enforcement vehicles, all reflecting the rural, agricultural character of the county. Because this is a blanket exemption rather than a permit or hours-based rule, there is no fee, application or time-of-day restriction tied to ordinary aircraft operations under this section.