Bowling Green, KY Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)

Federal preemption: under the Airline Deregulation Act and FAA exclusive authority over aircraft-in-flight, local governments cannot regulate the noise levels, routing, or operating hours of in-flight aircraft. The City of Bowling Green's Subchapter 9-3 (Noise) does not include any aircraft-noise provisions. The city's Chapter III (Airport Regulations) governs the Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport (BWG), which is owned jointly by the City of Bowling Green and Warren County, sits two miles southeast of downtown, has primary Runway 3/21 (6,501 x 150 ft) and secondary Runway 12/30 (3,956 x 150 ft), and reported approximately 9,814 aircraft operations in 2022 (FAA / FlightAware). BWG does not publish a mandatory noise-abatement curfew. Departing and arriving pilots are expected to follow FAA Advisory Circular AC 91-53 voluntary noise abatement procedures - chiefly noise abatement departure and approach profiles - when consistent with safety. Residents living within the airport's noise footprint can submit complaints directly to airport management at (270) 842-1101; the airport routes complaints to the operator. Local land-use compatibility around the airport is administered through the Warren County / Bowling Green joint zoning ordinance and the airport-zoning provisions of Chapter III, which limit building heights and certain incompatible uses within designated approach and transition zones to protect both safety and noise compatibility. Sport and general-aviation traffic from the Air Heritage Park / Aviation Heritage Park area is also based at BWG.