Aircraft-in-flight noise is preempted by the FAA, but Humboldt County manages ground-level airport noise impacts through 65 CNEL Airport Land Use Compatibility Plans. Standard N-S2 requires Noise Impact Combining Zones around the County's airports (Murray Field, Rohnerville, Garberville, Dinsmore, Kneeland, Shelter Cove, and the former Hoopa airport).
The General Plan Noise Element addresses airport noise through three mechanisms. First, Standard N-S2 (Noise Impact Combining Zones) directs that '20-year projected noise contours in the Map Book Appendix and the most current Airport Land Use Compatibility Plans shall be used to identify noise impact combining zone areas to indicate where special sound insulation measures may apply.' Second, Implementation Measure N-IM9 specifically adds a Noise Impact (N) Combining Zone 'to the areas surrounding the Garberville Airport that are subject to noise levels equal to or above 60 CNEL.' Third, Table 13-C (Land Use/Noise Compatibility Standards) establishes the 65 CNEL threshold as the boundary between 'Normally Acceptable' and 'Normally Unacceptable' for single-family residential. The Element identifies airports as principal noise sources for Alton (Rohnerville), Eureka (Murray Field), Fairhaven (City of Eureka Airport), Fortuna (Rohnerville), Garberville (Airport), Hoopa (Former County Airport), Hydesville (Rohnerville), Kneeland (Kneeland Airport), McKinleyville (Eureka/Arcata Airport), and Shelter Cove (Shelter Cove Airport). California Public Utilities Code Section 21669 authorizes state aircraft noise standards based on 'the level of noise acceptable to a reasonable person residing in the vicinity of the airport.' Federal law (49 U.S.C. 40103, FAR Part 91, and the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990) preempts local regulation of aircraft in flight.
Direct enforcement against aircraft is preempted - the County cannot cite a pilot or ban a flight. New land uses within ALUCP noise contours can be denied or required to include sound insulation. Habitable rooms inside the 60 CNEL contour must be designed to achieve a 45 CNEL interior level (Standard N-S5).
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Humboldt County's aircraft noise rules stack up against other locations.
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