Floral Park law restricts noise from air conditioners

The Floral Park Village Board of Trustees has passed a law to restrict the noise from central air-conditioning units and their distance from nearby homes.

At Tuesday night’s board meeting, the trustees unanimously approved local law No. 5 — amending the existing village code regarding freestanding heating and cooling equipment. The new law allows such equipment in side yards provided it is 45 feet from the rear property line and 10 feet from the side lot line. Homeowners could face a $250 fine for not complying once the law goes into effect immediately upon filing it with the state secretary of state.

The village created the law in response to an increasing number of homeowners who have sought to purchase and install central air-conditioning units, and complaints about those units from neighbors, trustee Mary-Grace Tomecki said at the meeting.

The law allows “homeowners the ability to improve the value of their residential dwelling and in turn, their daily life, without undermining the quality of life enjoyed by neighbors,” said Tomecki, who is the village’s building commissioner and noise abatement officer.

At the time of installation of any such equipment, the property owner is required to file with the Buildings Department proof that the unit has a certified sound-level rating not exceeding 50 decibels. In addition, any equipment should be screened in a manner approved by the Building Department.

“Passage of this law will minimize the need and, more importantly, the personal expense to homeowners having to be heard by the Board of Zoning Appeal at a time when money is tight and construction costs can deter investment,” Tomecki said.

Above: Downtown Floral Park