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I observed a helicopter hovering over a residential area/houses for more than 20-30 minutes. I would guesstimate about 500 feet altitude or more for the helicopter. The low altitude and long duration of the hovering created lots of what I would call unpleasant "noise pollution".

What is the FAA minimum allowed altitude for helicopters over a residential area?

re "possible duplicate":

@fooot I already googled and read that entire question. That question is asking about "when is a Helicopter legally allowed by FAA to fly below the FAA's minimum allowed safe altitude?" and that question is even more specific to a specific situation observed by the OP. They both have wording that talks about minimum altitude but are not the same question.

As others have noted in the comments, they agree this is not a duplicate.

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    $\begingroup$ Possible duplicate of Under what conditions would a helicopter be allowed to fly at low altitude over populated areas? $\endgroup$
    – fooot
    Apr 20, 2016 at 22:29
  • $\begingroup$ @fooot I already googled and read that entire question. That question is asking about "when is a Helicopter legally allowed by FAA to fly below the FAA's minimum allowed safe altitude?" and that question is even more specific to a specific situation observed by the OP. They both have wording that talks about minimum altitude but are not the same question. $\endgroup$
    – Trevor Boyd Smith
    Apr 20, 2016 at 22:37
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    $\begingroup$ I think @TrevorBoydSmith has a point. This is a more general question about what is allowed in normal circumstances, not during an emergency. The question isn't a duplicate. $\endgroup$
    – Jay Carr
    Apr 20, 2016 at 22:50
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    $\begingroup$ Agree - not a duplicate. This is actually a much better question than the other one is. $\endgroup$
    – Ralph J ♦
    Apr 21, 2016 at 1:12
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    $\begingroup$ unless necessary to safeguard human life @user3344003 see my comment on @rbp's answer for a link. $\endgroup$
    – Steve
    Apr 21, 2016 at 1:27

1 Answer 1

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It depends on where it is.

A residential area/houses may or not be "congested" -- that term is not defined. But we typically use 500 feet for helis.

When hovering in an area for a specific purpose, such as photo shoots or other surveillance operation, or for some other operational reason, then we can use a lower altitude.

Sec. 91.119

Minimum safe altitudes: General.

Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft below the following altitudes:

(a) Anywhere. An altitude allowing, if a power unit fails, an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface.

(b) Over congested areas. Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any open air assembly of persons, an altitude of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2,000 feet of the aircraft.

(c) Over other than congested areas. An altitude of 500 feet above the surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In those cases, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.

(d) Helicopters, powered parachutes, and weight-shift-control aircraft. If the operation is conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface--

(1) A helicopter may be operated at less than the minimums prescribed in paragraph (b) or (c) of this section, provided each person operating the helicopter complies with any routes or altitudes specifically prescribed for helicopters by the FAA; and

(2) A powered parachute or weight-shift-control aircraft may be operated at less than the minimums prescribed in paragraph (c) of this section.]

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  • $\begingroup$ c) the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any...structure. d1) except provided each person operating the helicopter complies with any routes or altitudes specifically prescribed for helicopters by the FAA. Are there examples of what "routes or altitudes" are prescribed by the FAA? $\endgroup$
    – Steve
    Apr 21, 2016 at 0:33
  • $\begingroup$ Yes there are heli charts for major metro areas, like NY and LA faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/digital_products/vfr/… $\endgroup$
    – rbp
    Apr 21, 2016 at 0:35
  • $\begingroup$ Also, according to this answer, 14 CFR 91.119 says about issuing a waiver: When issuing the waiver, the altitude requested should be an absolute minimum, but may not be less than 500 feet from persons or property, unless necessary to safeguard human life $\endgroup$
    – Steve
    Apr 21, 2016 at 0:36
  • $\begingroup$ i see they can be viewed in skyvector as well, just not easy to find skyvector.com/… $\endgroup$
    – rbp
    Apr 21, 2016 at 0:42
  • $\begingroup$ Interesting. I had no idea that weight-shift aircraft and powered-parachute aircraft were exempt from the basic 500' rule. That inspired me to check FAR 103 re ultralight vehicles and I see that no 500' rule is listed there either, nor any 1000' rule, but flight over congested areas is prohibited at any altitude. Interesting. $\endgroup$
    – quiet flyer
    Oct 17, 2018 at 5:38

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