Craven County, NC Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger
- Sale, lease, or offer to sell/lease property in AICUZ
- Disclosed zones
- Clear Zone, APZ 1/2, and Noise Level N1-N3
- Loudest zone
- N3 = 75 Ldn or higher, "significant impact"
- Contact
- Craven County Planning Department for use restrictions
- Governing ordinance
- Cherry Point MCAS Zoning Ordinance, ch. 41 art. III pt. II
Summary
Anyone selling or leasing property inside the Air Installation Compatible Use Zone around Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point must give the buyer or tenant a written AICUZ disclosure before the deal closes. The notice identifies which noise and accident-potential zone the property sits in, from the Clear Zone down to Noise Level N1, so buyers know what aircraft noise to expect.
No person shall sell, lease, nor offer for sale or lease any property subject to this Part unless the prospective buyer or lessee has been given the following notice: ... The property subject to this contract/lease is situated within the following zones of the Air Installation Compatibility Use Zone (AICUZ) of the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point: ... Clear Zone (CZ): Greatest potential for accidents and highest noise exposure ... Noise Exposure Level N3 (75 Idn or Higher): Area of significant impact Noise Exposure Level N2 (65 to 74 Idn): Area of moderate impact Noise Exposure Level N1 (below 65 Idn): Area of some impact. Craven County has placed certain use restrictions on the development of property within the MCAS AICUZ footprint.
Full Breakdown
Craven County Code ch. 41, art. III, pt. II § 304, part of the Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station Zoning Ordinance, bars anyone from selling, leasing, or offering to sell or lease property covered by that Part without first giving the prospective buyer or lessee a signed Air Installation Compatible Use Zone (AICUZ) disclosure. The form requires the seller to check which zone applies: the Clear Zone (CZ, the greatest accident potential and highest noise exposure), Accident Potential Zone 1 or 2, or one of three Noise Exposure Level zones keyed to average day-night sound level, N3 at 75 Ldn or higher for significant impact, N2 from 65 to 74 Ldn for moderate impact, or N1 below 65 Ldn for some impact.
The disclosure form also directs the owner to send the buyer to the Craven County Planning Department before any purchase, lease, or improvement, because the county has placed use restrictions on development inside the AICUZ footprint, and the Planning Department can provide guidance on reducing noise impacts for property inside the Noise Exposure Level zones. The seller must sign a certification that the disclosure was actually given to the buyer or lessee before closing.
Violations & Fines
Part II's compliance runs through Chapter 41's general enforcement provisions in Article I, § 901: the Planning Director can issue a written notice of violation for noncompliance with this Part, appealable to the Board of Adjustment, and can pursue any remedy available under G.S. 153A-123, including an injunction, to correct or abate the violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to disclose aircraft noise before selling property near Cherry Point?
What do the noise zone labels mean?
Does the county limit what I can build in a noise zone?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Craven County
Compare Craven County to another location·View the North Carolina noise ordinances overview
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