California sets statewide airport noise limits under Title 21 CCR, with the state preempting most local aviation noise control because federal FAA authority dominates aircraft operations in flight.
California's Airport Noise Standards in Title 21, Division 2.5 of the California Code of Regulations cap acceptable airport noise impact at a 65 dB CNEL contour and require airport proprietors to monitor and mitigate excess noise on surrounding land uses. Cities and counties cannot directly regulate aircraft in flight because federal law (the Airline Deregulation Act and FAA Act) preempts local airspace rules, leaving California's Caltrans Division of Aeronautics as the principal state authority. Local jurisdictions retain only limited proprietor controls at airports they operate.
Airport proprietors that fail to comply with the 65 dB CNEL standard may face state enforcement, loss of operating variance approvals, and civil liability to impacted residents through inverse condemnation actions.
Nevada County, CA
RVs, travel trailers, and boats may be stored on a residential parcel in unincorporated Nevada County, but full-time occupancy of an RV as a dwelling is proh...
Grass Valley, CA
Grass Valley's parking rules are in Title 10 (Vehicles and Traffic) of the Municipal Code — Chapter 10.32 (Stopping, Standing and Parking) and Chapter 10.48 ...
Nevada County, CA
Beekeeping is broadly allowed in unincorporated Nevada County. Hobbyist apiaries with fewer than 10 hives pay no County registration fee (Board Resolution 93...
Nevada County, CA
Section L-II 3.4 of the Land Use & Development Code allows backyard chickens (hens only, no roosters) in the R1 and RA zoning districts. Hen counts range fro...
Nevada County, CA
Nevada County Code Title 8 prohibits any dog or other animal from being 'at large' off its owner's premises. An animal is deemed at large when it is off the ...
Nevada County, CA
Outdoor burning of dry landscape vegetation is allowed in unincorporated Nevada County only on permissive burn days during the declared open burn season (typ...
See how Grass Valley's aircraft noise rules stack up against other locations.
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