Aircraft noise in New Jersey is preempted by federal law, leaving New Jersey municipalities without authority to regulate flight operations or in-flight sound.
Under the Federal Aviation Act and the Airline Deregulation Act, the FAA has exclusive authority over navigable airspace, flight paths, altitudes, and aircraft noise emissions. NJ courts and the NJDEP Noise Control Code at N.J.A.C. 7:29-1.4 expressly exclude aircraft in flight from state and local noise regulation. Municipalities cannot impose curfews, decibel limits, or routing restrictions on aircraft. Limited authority remains for airport proprietors and for ground operations on airport property, subject to FAA approval under 49 U.S.C. 47521 (ANCA).
Local ordinances attempting to regulate aircraft noise are unenforceable and subject to federal injunction. Affected residents must pursue FAA Part 150 noise studies or proprietor remedies.
Union County, NJ
Elizabeth Code Ch. 7.24 prohibits abandoned vehicles on streets (72-hr limit) or visible on private property. NJ's Abandoned Vehicle Law (N.J.S.A. 39:10A-1) ...
Union County, NJ
Elizabeth and Union County municipalities require building permits for retaining walls over 4 ft (measured from bottom of footing to top of wall) per N.J.A.C...
Union County, NJ
NJ Uniform Construction Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.14) mandates minimum 4-ft pool barriers. Elizabeth and most Union County towns require 5-ft fences with self-cl...
Union County, NJ
NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife prohibits feeding of black bears (N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.25) statewide. Union County municipalities also restrict feeding of deer, fe...
Union County, NJ
Union County is urban/suburban with low wildfire risk — not a designated NJ Forest Fire Service high-hazard zone. NJ Forest Fire Service (N.J.S.A. 13:9-1) re...
Union County, NJ
Artificial turf permitted in Union County residential properties with proper drainage. Some municipalities restrict in front yards or historic districts. Sto...
See how Cranford's aircraft noise rules stack up against other locations.
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