Modesto's noise ordinance expressly exempts aircraft and railroad operations; aircraft noise around Modesto City-County Airport is governed by federal FAA rules and the Stanislaus County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan.
Modesto Municipal Code § 4-9.104(f) lists 'locomotives and other railroad equipment, and aircraft' among the exempted noise sources, meaning the city's loud-and-raucous standard does not apply to aircraft operations. Aircraft noise is instead regulated at the federal level by the Federal Aviation Administration under 14 CFR Part 150 and California Airport Noise Standards in Title 21 CCR § 5000 et seq., which set a 65 dB CNEL community-noise standard for the area around airports. Modesto City-County Airport (MOD) is the general-aviation and limited commercial facility in the southeastern part of the city; its noise contours are mapped in the Stanislaus County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan and implemented through City General Plan Noise Policy Noise-12, which requires new construction to meet the airport's noise compatibility standards.
Aircraft operators cannot be cited under Modesto's noise ordinance because of the § 4-9.104(f) exemption. Aircraft noise complaints are directed to the FAA and the airport operator; nearby land use compatibility is enforced through the Airport Land Use Commission rather than code-enforcement citations.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Modesto, CA
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See how Modesto's aircraft noise rules stack up against other locations.
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