Antioch, CA Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)

Aircraft noise is federally preempted as to airworthiness and in-flight operations, but airport-proprietor noise rules adopted before the Airport Noise and Capacity Act (ANCA, 1990) remain enforceable. Contra Costa County's Airport Ordinance 88-82, Section 27 (effective January 1, 1989) governs Buchanan Field, which serves Antioch's airspace. Section 27.A caps daytime takeoff noise: 'no person shall pilot, operate, or permit to be operated, any aircraft at Buchanan Field Airport which exceeds a sound level of 78.0 decibels on the A-weighted scale (dBA) on takeoff,' measured per FAA Advisory Circular 36-3. Section 27.B tightens this to 75.0 dBA from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. local time. Section 27.D directs the Manager of Airports to maintain a Prohibited Aircraft List and bars listed aircraft from tying down, basing, or otherwise using Buchanan Field's landing/takeoff facilities. Section 3 of the same ordinance (revising Airport Regulations section 18.U.10) bans practice landings/takeoffs, training and proficiency operations, and touch-and-go operations between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. weekdays, extended to 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. on weekends and Contra-Costa-observed holidays. Section 27.G designates Runway 19R as the preferential noise-abatement arrival runway and Runway 32R as the preferential departure runway for delayed scheduled commercial flights. Section 27.F exempts US/State, law-enforcement/fire/SAR, emergency-relief, life-or-property emergency, Civil Air Patrol SAR, FAA-required test, medical evac, and Board-of-Supervisors-approved air-show aircraft from the daytime cap. Antioch's own municipal code does not impose additional aircraft noise restrictions because state law (California Public Utilities Code section 21669 et seq.) reserves airport noise standards to the airport proprietor and the state.