---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 47506"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "47506"
heading: "Limitations on recovering damages for noise"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/47506"
units:
  - "Subtitle VII — Aviation Programs"
  - "Part B — Airport Development and Noise"
  - "Chapter 475 — Noise"
  - "Subchapter I — Noise Abatement"
---

# §47506. Limitations on recovering damages for noise

- (a) **General Limitations.—** A person acquiring an interest in property after February 18, 1980, in an area surrounding an [airport](/usc/49/47501.md?p=1) for which a noise exposure map has been submitted under [section 47503 of this title](/usc/49/47503.md) and having actual or constructive knowledge of the existence of the map may recover damages for noise attributable to the [airport](/usc/49/47501.md?p=1) only if, in addition to any other elements for recovery of damages, the person shows that—
  - (1) after acquiring the interest, there was a significant—
    - (A) change in the type or frequency of [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) operations at the [airport](/usc/49/47501.md?p=1);
    - (B) change in the [airport](/usc/49/47501.md?p=1) layout;
    - (C) change in flight patterns; or
    - (D) increase in nighttime operations; and
  - (2) the damages resulted from the change or increase.
- (b) **Constructive Knowledge.—** Constructive knowledge of the existence of a map under [subsection (a)](#a) of this section shall be imputed, at a minimum, to a person if—
  - (1) before the person acquired the interest, notice of the existence of the map was published at least 3 times in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the property is located; or
  - (2) the person is given a copy of the map when acquiring the interest.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1286.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 47506 | 49 App.:2107. | Feb. 18, 1980, Pub. L. 96–193, § 107, 94 Stat. 53. |

In subsection (a)(2), the words “for which recovery is sought have” are omitted as surplus.