Southampton Village, NY Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)

Chapter 77 of the Southampton Village Code sets numeric noise limits in § 77-3, measured at or beyond the lot line of the property where the noise is generated. In a residential district the daytime limit from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. is 65 dBA, with octave band limits as an alternative test. Section 77-4 then lists the sources those limits do not reach, and item (6) on that list is "Noise of aircraft flight operations." The same list covers agriculture, church bells used with religious services, public celebrations, snowblowers operated with a muffler, and the activities of any fire department or ambulance squad.

The exemption has a limit built into § 77-4B. The listed exceptions do not exempt a source of noise from the chapter's definitions of "noise pollution" or "person" in § 77-1, and noise pollution there includes noise that causes a nuisance. The Code does not say how that sentence applies to a particular overflight, so the reliable reading is that the dBA test is off the table for flight operations while the nuisance definition stays on the books.

What the Village does regulate is where aircraft come down. Section 39-3 says no person shall land an airplane, helicopter or other aircraft anywhere in the Village of Southampton except in case of emergency and except at a location the Board of Trustees designates by resolution. Section 39-5 governs the Village heliport on the north side of Meadow Lane. From May 1 through September 15 helicopters can land only between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.; from November 1 through December 31 the window is 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Helicopters over 15,000 pounds are barred, landing approaches must come over Shinnecock Bay, departures must stay over the bay until at least one nautical mile out before turning east or west, and a helicopter cannot sit on the helipad waiting for passengers. Landing fees are $100 per landing under 5,000 pounds and $150 from 5,000 pounds to 15,000 pounds. Government helicopters in service and emergency landings are exempt from the hours, route and fee rules.