What is the minimum allowed altitude for helicopters over a residential area in the US? 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.
It depends on where it is.
A residential area/houses may or not be &quot;congested&quot; -- 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.]