The Town of Oyster Bay noise ordinance, set out in Chapter 156 of the Town Code, restricts loud sound by time of day and by activity, with fines running from $350 for a first offense up to $1,000 for repeat violations within five years, plus possible jail time of up to six months.1Town of Oyster Bay. Town of Oyster Bay Code – Chapter 156 Noise The rules that matter most to residents are the quiet-hour curfews for stereos, construction, and leaf blowers, and the complaint process when a neighbor ignores them.
Quiet Hours by Activity
The ordinance opens with a blanket rule against creating or continuing a “noise disturbance” at any time. Section 156-4 then sets specific curfews for the activities that generate most complaints.1Town of Oyster Bay. Town of Oyster Bay Code – Chapter 156 Noise
- Radios, televisions, and musical instruments that produce sound crossing a property line are prohibited between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and between 11:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. on Sundays and holidays.
- Car stereos on a public road are prohibited any hour if the sound is audible at roughly 50 feet.
- Loudspeakers and PA systems that cross a property boundary or operate on public property are prohibited from 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. on weekdays, and 10:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Sundays and holidays.
- A dog, bird, or other animal that howls or barks continuously for more than 30 minutes across a residential property line puts the owner in violation.
- Selling anything by shouting in a residential or commercial area is prohibited, with an exception for stadiums and sports arenas.
Whether a sound counts as a “noise disturbance” depends on time of day, volume, and duration together. Most residential complaints are handled under that general standard rather than by decibel meter.
Construction Hours
Construction, drilling, and demolition equipment that creates a noise disruption across a residential property line is prohibited from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and at all times on Sundays and holidays. Emergency work and public utility repairs are the only exceptions.1Town of Oyster Bay. Town of Oyster Bay Code – Chapter 156 Noise
The Sunday and holiday ban applies around the clock. A contractor working at noon on a Sunday, if the noise reaches a neighbor’s property, is violating the code. Domestic power tools used on projects that don’t require a building permit fall under a separate provision, § 156-4B(16), so weekend lawn mowing and small home repairs are treated differently from a contractor job.
Leaf Blowers
Motorized leaf blowers have their own, tighter window under § 156-4B(18). Weekday use is allowed from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. On weekends and national holidays, the window is 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.1Town of Oyster Bay. Town of Oyster Bay Code – Chapter 156 Noise
These hours are stricter than the general construction curfew, so a landscaping crew running blowers at 7:15 a.m. on a weekday is in violation even though other powered equipment can start at 7:00 a.m. Leaf blower complaints are among the most common the town handles.
What the Ordinance Doesn’t Cover
Section 156-5 exempts three categories of activity entirely:1Town of Oyster Bay. Town of Oyster Bay Code – Chapter 156 Noise
- Sound made to alert people to an emergency or produced during emergency response work, including sirens, alarms, and repair crews.
- Noise created during valid municipal functions, whether by town employees or private contractors working for the town. Snow plowing, road repair, and town-sponsored events are covered here.
- Sound made during lawful hunting at New York State-approved areas with proper licenses.
Construction activity that complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws also has a separate carve-out under § 156-4B(12).
Fines and Jail Time
Penalties under § 156-8 escalate with repeat behavior inside a five-year window:1Town of Oyster Bay. Town of Oyster Bay Code – Chapter 156 Noise
- First offense: a fine of up to $350, imprisonment of up to six months, or both.
- Second offense within five years: a fine between $350 and $700, imprisonment of up to six months, or both.
- Third or subsequent offense within five years: a fine between $700 and $1,000, imprisonment of up to six months, or both.
A separate provision, § 156-8.1, applies when someone violates a direct order from the Commissioner of Public Safety or an authorized representative. That carries a fine of up to $900, imprisonment of up to 15 days, or both. This is the penalty for refusing an officer’s instruction to turn the music down.
Many cases go through the town’s Bureau of Administrative Adjudication under § 156-8.2, which imposes monetary penalties within the fine ranges above for first and second violations. A third violation within six months is charged as a misdemeanor and sent to Nassau County District Court.
How to Report a Noise Problem
The Code Enforcement Bureau takes noise complaints at (516) 624-6200, extension 4. A formal request for investigation requires a written form and proof of identity, such as a copy of a driver’s license, a utility bill, or a notarized signature.2Town of Oyster Bay. Code Enforcement Bureau
For noise happening right now, call your local police precinct or the Town’s Department of Public Safety, which operates 24 hours a day and can dispatch officers for immediate enforcement. Give the exact address of the source, the type of noise, and how long it has been going on. If the problem is recurring, keep a log of dates and times. The town builds enforcement actions on documented patterns, so a running record of a neighbor’s late-night barking dog carries far more weight than a single call about one loud party.