Charleston, WV Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Regulated use
- Helipad/heliport (conditional use)
- Noise standard
- No traffic/noise nuisance
- Location limit
- Not near residential districts
- Extra requirement
- FAA approval + Planning Commission report
Summary
Charleston's zoning code blocks any helipad or heliport from creating a noise nuisance or sitting too close to a residential zoning district.
Helipads or heliports shall comply with the following:
a. A helipad or heliport shall not create a nuisance due to traffic, noise, or proximity to a
residential zoning district.
b. Proposals shall be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration and a report
submitted to the planning Commission prior to action.
c. A helipad or heliport shall be located so as to minimize the potential risk to the public
and shall have flight paths that also minimize such risk, especially for the last 300 feet
horizontal of the actual direction of approach.
27. Indoor self-storage facilities shall comply with the following:
66 City of Charleston, West Virginia Zoning Ordinance
a. Outdoor storage at the proposed site requires a buffering plan to be submitted to the
Planning Commission.
b. In cases where there is a proposed re-use of an existing building, the Planning
Commission may require architectural features such as window treatments, etc. to be
preserved to protect the character of the building.
28. Within permitted junkyards, all junk shall be totally obscured from the ordinary view of persons driving on a public street, road, or highway. The view may be obscured by topography; or an
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Under the city's zoning ordinance, a helipad or heliport is a conditional use that must clear a specific noise test: it cannot create a nuisance from traffic or noise, and it cannot sit too close to a residential zoning district. Applicants also need FAA approval and a report to the Planning Commission before the Commission acts, and flight paths must be laid out to minimize risk, especially in the last 300 feet of the approach. This effectively keeps helicopter operations away from noise-sensitive residential areas rather than setting a decibel limit for aircraft already in the air.
Violations & Fines
A helipad/heliport proposal that fails the nuisance-and-proximity test is denied conditional-use approval by the Planning Commission; an unauthorized or noncompliant helipad is a zoning violation subject to the code's general enforcement remedies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Charleston set a decibel limit for helicopters?
Who approves a new heliport in Charleston?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Charleston
Compare Charleston to another location·View the West Virginia noise ordinances overview
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