Oyster Bay, NY Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Lowest-band ceiling (0-74 Hz)
- 66 decibels
- Highest-band ceiling (4,800-20,000 Hz)
- 35 decibels
- Near-residence-district cut
- -6 dB within 200 feet
- Nighttime/Sunday cut
- 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., all Sunday
- Applies to
- Business and industrial uses
- Fine range
- $350 to $1,000, escalating
Summary
Oyster Bay's zoning performance standards set a maximum sound-pressure level by octave band at any point on or beyond a business or industrial lot line, sliding from 66 decibels in the lowest frequency band down to 35 decibels above 4,800 cycles per second. Any site within 200 feet of a residence district loses 6 decibels off that ceiling, and the same 6-decibel cut applies at night and all day Sunday.
Maximum permitted sound pressure level. The decibels resulting from any activity, whether open or enclosed, shall not exceed, at any point on or beyond any lot line, the maximum decibel level for the designated octave band as set forth in the following table, except that where the lot lies within 200 feet of a residence district, whether within or without the town, the maximum permitted decibel level at any point on or beyond the district boundary shall be reduced by six decibels from the maximum permitted level set forth in the table below and, further, except that such reduction shall also apply to any sound emitted between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., and all day on Sundays. Octave Band (Cycles per Second) / Maximum Permitted Sound Pressure Level (Decibels)
0 — 74 / 66 75 — 149 / 58 150 — 299 / 55 300 — 599 / 50 600 — 1,199 / 45 1,200 — 2,399 / 42 2,400 — 4,799 / 38 4,800 — 20,000 / 35
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4036544; v24 updated 2023-03-07; through 03-07-2023).
Full Breakdown
2, Maximum permitted sound pressure level, applies to any business or industrial use activity, open or enclosed, under the chapter's Performance Standards. It sets a hard octave-band ceiling: 66 dB from 0-74 cycles per second, 58 dB from 75-149, 55 dB from 150-299, 50 dB from 300-599, 45 dB from 600-1,199, 42 dB from 1,200-2,399, 38 dB from 2,400-4,799, and 35 dB from 4,800-20,000. and all day on Sundays. 1 requires compliance to be measured with sound level meters and octave band filters, using analyzers calibrated to pre-1960 octave bands, with an impact noise filter for sounds too brief for a standard meter.
and sunset, safety and emergency warning signals, and transient noise from moving vehicles, trains and airplanes. 2. This table governs business and industrial performance standards under the Town's zoning chapter; it is separate from Chapter 156's general Noise Control Ordinance, which sets its own decibel thresholds for emergency stop orders and applies townwide to residential noise disturbances.
Violations & Fines
A use that exceeds the table breaches § 246-10.2's conformance requirement, which is a condition of its certificate of occupancy, and is enforced by the Department of Planning and Development like any zoning violation under § 246-14.7.1: a fine up to $350 and up to six months in jail for a first offense, $350 to $700 for a second within five years, and $700 to $1,000 for a third within five years, with each week of continued violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this decibel table apply to a loud neighbor or a barking dog?
How does the Town measure whether a business is over the limit?
What triggers the automatic 6-decibel reduction?
Are any noises exempt from the table?
What happens if a business exceeds the decibel limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Oyster Bay
New York rules heatmap·Compare Oyster Bay to another location·View the New York noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.