Hanford, CA Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)

Aircraft noise in Kings County is driven overwhelmingly by Naval Air Station Lemoore, the Navy's master jet base, whose Military Influence Area covers much of the northwest portion of the county. Military aircraft operations are not regulated by the Kings County Code or by the FAA; instead, the Navy manages noise through its Air Installations Compatible Use Zones (AICUZ) program under federal authority, and noise concerns about base operations are directed to the installation rather than to local code enforcement. What the county does control is land use around the base. Per the 2035 General Plan Noise Element, new residential development is prohibited where noise reaches 70 dB CNEL or more, and new homes near the 60 dB CNEL contour require noise insulation to a 45 dB CNEL interior, buyer disclosure of noise conditions, and avigation easements. Much of the land surrounding NAS Lemoore is zoned Exclusive Agriculture (40-acre minimum) specifically to reduce conflicts between jet operations and incompatible uses, and county land-use designations are coordinated to be compatible with the AICUZ. The County Planning Commission acts as the Airport Land Use Commission. So while residents cannot file a noise-ordinance citation over a passing jet, the county's planning rules shape where noise-sensitive development can occur.