Tampa, FL Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)

1 sets construction standards for new buildings within Accident Potential Zone 1 (APZ 1), the high-noise/high-risk area near MacDill Air Force Base referenced in Sec. 5 of Tampa's zoning code, which specifies a required noise level reduction (NLR) of 25 decibels. Compliance with Sec. 1's construction details is 'deemed to meet' that 25 db standard. The section prescribes airtight construction throughout the building envelope: brick veneer, masonry block or stucco walls must have all joints grouted or caulked airtight, and every wall penetration for pipes, ducts or conduits must be caulked or filled with mortar.

Window and through-the-wall ventilation units and through-the-wall mailboxes are barred outright. Exterior walls need a laboratory sound transmission class (STC) rating of at least STC-39, achieved through specified stud depth, gypsum board or plaster interior surfaces, continuous sheathing, and at least two inches of glass-fiber or mineral-wool insulation in the wall cavity. 5 cubic feet per minute per foot of crack length, and sealed frames. Doors also require STC-28, solid-core wood or insulated hollow metal at least 1¾ inches thick, fully weatherstripped. Roofs need STC-39 with sealed sheathing, and glazed skylights need STC-28.

The section caps window and door glass area in sleeping spaces at 20 percent of floor area and requires mechanical ventilation so occupants never need to open a window or door for fresh air. Builders may use alternate materials or methods if the building official approves them and a certification confirms the 25 db NLR is actually achieved.