Suffolk County, NY Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in Suffolk County, NY, sometimes called construction noise rules or contractor work-hour ordinances, set when contractors can run power tools, hammers, and heavy equipment.
Key Facts
- Exempt hours
- 7 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays
- Barred
- 6 p.m.-7 a.m. weekdays
- Barred
- all day weekends and holidays
- Scope
- County highways/right-of-way, County property only
- Max penalty
- $500 fine, 1 year jail
Summary
County law exempts construction noise from the general noise-disturbance ban only from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Running equipment on County highways or County-owned property outside that window, or anytime on weekends and holidays, is barred unless it's emergency work or meets other exceptions.
The noise from construction activity, except for operating or permitting the operation of any tools or equipment used in construction, drilling, earth-moving, excavating or demolition work between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day on weekdays or at any time on weekends or legal holidays, except:
(a) Emergency work.
(b) When the sound level does not exceed any applicable limit specified in Table I of § 618-4.
(c) When it is the result of the operation of any said equipment by or for any municipal entity.
(4) Noise from snowblowers, snow throwers and snowplows, when operated with a muffler, for the purpose of snow removal.
(5) Noise from stationary emergency signaling devices owned and operated by any public utility, municipal subdivision, fire department or ambulance corps when used in connection with an emergency or for testing purposes.
(6) Noise from a burglar alarm of any building or motor vehicle, provided that such burglar alarm shall terminate its operation within 15 minutes after it has been activated and shall not operate more than 15 minutes in any one-hour period.
C. This chapter shall not apply to: [Amended 5-13-2003 by L.L. No. 18-2003]
(1) The emission of sound for the purpose of alerting persons to the existence of an emergency or the creation of sound in the performance of emergency work.
(2) Noise from noncommercial public-speaking and public-assembly activities.
(3)
Full Breakdown
Suffolk County Code Chapter 618 bans 'noise disturbances,' including from construction, drilling, earth-moving, excavating and demolition equipment, on County highways, their rights-of-way, and County-owned real estate and buses. Construction noise is carved out of that ban only between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays. Running the same equipment from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. on weekdays, or at any time on weekends and legal holidays, is a violation unless the work is an emergency, stays within the chapter's Table I decibel limits, or is done by or for a municipal entity. The chapter reaches only County highways and County-owned property -- it sets no construction hours for private property, which is left to each town or village.
Violations & Fines
Intentionally violating § 618-3 or § 618-4 is an unclassified misdemeanor: up to a $500 fine and/or one year in jail, with each violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this cover construction noise at my house?
What hours can crews run equipment on a County road job?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Suffolk County
How Suffolk County compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·New York rules heatmap·Compare Suffolk County to another location·View the New York noise ordinances overview
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