Aircraft noise from Sea-Tac (SEA), Boeing Field, and Renton Municipal is preempted by federal FAA authority. King County cannot regulate in-flight aircraft; complaints go to Port of Seattle at 206-787-5393.
Aircraft noise is exclusively regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under 49 USC 40103, which preempts state and local noise regulation of aircraft in flight. King County cannot enforce KCC 12.86 noise limits against aircraft operating from Sea-Tac International Airport (SEA), King County International Airport/Boeing Field (KBFI), Renton Municipal, or general aviation traffic. WAC 173-60-050 explicitly exempts sounds originating from aircraft in flight and aircraft-related operations at airports. The Port of Seattle operates a Sea-Tac Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART) and a noise hotline at 206-787-5393 for complaints. FAA NextGen flight path changes since 2017 have affected communities south of SEA and on the Eastside. Noise-insulation grants are available for qualifying homes near SEA through the Port of Seattle Aviation Noise Programs. Boeing Field (BFI) operates under its own noise abatement procedures.
Federal FAA jurisdiction. King County cannot issue citations for in-flight aircraft noise. Ground aircraft operations at private airstrips may be subject to local code.
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See how King County's aircraft noise rules stack up against other locations.
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