Spring Hill, TN Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)

Subsection (C)(4) of the Unnecessary Noise Standard is the only aircraft provision in the section. It applies to any person who operates or causes to be operated any type of aircraft over the city that produces noise levels exceeding 87 dB(A) within the city. The limit is a single A-weighted number, unlike the octave-band table used for ground sources in subsection (C)(2).

The exemption in subsection (C)(5)(e) is broad. Any aircraft operated in conformity with, or pursuant to, federal law, federal air regulations and air-traffic control instruction used within the duly adopted federal air regulations is exempt from the section. Any aircraft operating under technical difficulties, in any kind of distress, under emergency orders of air-traffic control, or operated pursuant to and after the declaration of an emergency under the federal air regulations is also exempt. In practice the city limit reaches only aircraft that are not being flown in conformity with the federal rules the exemption describes.

Aircraft noise is also kept out of ordinary neighbor-to-neighbor measurements. When a sound level is taken under subsection (C)(2)(b), traffic, aircraft and other transportation noise sources and other background noises are not considered, except where the background noise interferes with the primary noise being measured.

Other exemptions in (C)(5) cover safety signals and warning devices, authorized emergency vehicles responding to an emergency call, emergency work, and temporary activities for which the city has granted a license or permit. Relief from any noise level in the section on the basis of undue hardship is sought from the Board of Zoning Appeals, with parades and street fairs handled by the Mayor or City Administrator.