Apex, NC Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)

Federal preemption: the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990 limits airports from imposing new noise-based operational restrictions, and federal law preempts any local government from implementing any action intended to control the routes of aircraft in flight. The FAA holds exclusive jurisdiction over aircraft flight paths, altitudes, and operating hours. The Apex Town Code (Chapter 14, Article III) contains no aircraft-noise provisions. There is no airport within Apex town limits and Apex has not adopted an airport-noise compatibility overlay through its Unified Development Ordinance. Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU / KRDU) is located approximately 15 miles north of Apex on the Wake-Durham county line and is operated by the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority. Through cooperative efforts of the FAA, airlines, and the surrounding community, the Airport Authority operates an Aircraft Noise Abatement Program through its Aircraft Noise Abatement Committee (ANAC), established in 1989, which adopted an Aircraft Noise Abatement Policy and monitors flight tracks and noise complaints. Most of Apex falls outside the FAA Day-Night Average Sound Level (DNL) 65 dB contour for RDU - the federal threshold above which residential land use is considered noise-incompatible - although neighborhoods in the northern parts of town near U.S. 64 may experience occasional overflight noise depending on runway configuration and weather. Residents who experience aircraft overflight noise should file complaints with the RDU Noise Office (rdu.com/noise-inquires-and-complaints) rather than with the Town of Apex, as the Town has no enforcement authority over in-flight operations. The federal mechanism for community-wide aircraft noise assessment is the FAA Part 150 noise compatibility study process - RDU has been a participant.