diff --git a/src/station_cmd.cpp b/src/station_cmd.cpp
index 375abb0cb3..a4e871c922 100644
--- a/src/station_cmd.cpp
+++ b/src/station_cmd.cpp
@@ -2802,7 +2802,7 @@ CommandCost CmdBuildAirport(TileIndex tile, DoCommandFlag flags, uint32_t p1, ui
 			authority_refuse_message = STR_ERROR_LOCAL_AUTHORITY_REFUSES_NOISE;
 			authority_refuse_town = nearest;
 		}
-	} else if (action != AIRPORT_UPGRADE) {
+	} else if (_settings_game.difficulty.town_council_tolerance != TOWN_COUNCIL_PERMISSIVE && action != AIRPORT_UPGRADE) {
 		Town *t = ClosestTownFromTile(tile, UINT_MAX);
 		uint num = 0;
 		for (const Station *st : Station::Iterate()) {