Delano, CA Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)

Kern County's general noise ordinance (Chapter 8.36) does not regulate aircraft overflight noise — federal law (49 U.S.C. § 40103 and 14 CFR Part 91) preempts local rules on aircraft operations in flight. For Meadows Field Airport (BFL) in Bakersfield, owned and operated by Kern County, the county submitted a Noise Compatibility Program to the FAA under the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act (49 U.S.C. § 47501 et seq.) and 14 CFR Part 150. The FAA approved the program effective September 18, 2008 (73 Fed. Reg. 62,640, October 21, 2008). Approved measures include continued voluntary policies that limit turbojet training operations and informal preferential use of Runways 30L/30R for noise abatement. Residents who experience aircraft noise at Meadows Field can report it to the airport noise line at (661) 391-1849; complaints about non-airport aircraft (e.g., crop dusters, military overflights) must be directed to the FAA, not the county. State-level noise standards for airports are set by California Code of Regulations Title 21, § 5000 et seq. (Airport Noise Standards).