Lassen County, CA Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)

Lassen County does not regulate aircraft noise in flight under Chapter 9.65; aircraft operations are preempted by federal law (the Federal Aviation Act). Instead, the county manages airport noise through land-use planning. The 2021 Noise Element states that California Code of Regulations Title 21 establishes 65 dBA CNEL as the maximum acceptable level of aircraft-noise exposure for residents affected by airport operations. The county operates several public-use airports - Herlong, Spalding (Spaulding), Bieber and Ravendale - plus Amedee Army Airfield (with an adopted Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan, 2016); Susanville Municipal Airport is operated by the City of Susanville. The Lassen County Airport Land Use Commission has adopted Airport Land Use Plans for these facilities, and CNEL noise-exposure contours have been prepared. Under Policy 2.2 and Action 2.2a, proposed noise-sensitive land uses should not be located within the 65 dBA CNEL contour of any county airport; where they are, special sound-insulation measures consistent with Standard N-1 may apply. Heliports (such as CAL FIRE helipads) are also identified as noise sources in the county's inventory.