Moore County, NC Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Curfew window
- No takeoff/landing 10 p.m. to dawn if noise-noncompliant
- Heading hold altitude
- 1,500 feet MSL before turning off takeoff heading
- Applies to
- Multi-engine aircraft departing Runway 5 or 23
- Noise standard
- FAR Part 36 certification
- Exception
- Emergency landings allowed at any hour
- General penalty
- Up to $50 fine or 30 days jail per day
Summary
Moore County's airport ordinance imposes a noise curfew on aircraft using the county airport in unincorporated Moore County. Multi-engine aircraft departing Runway 5 or 23 must hold their takeoff heading to 1,500 feet above mean sea level before turning. Any aircraft that cannot meet the Federal Air Regulations Part 36 noise standard may not take off or land between 10:00 p.m. and dawn, except for an emergency landing.
Noise abatement procedures will be followed by all multi-engine aircraft operating from the airport. Upon takeoff from Runway 5 or 23, multi-engine aircraft will maintain takeoff headings until reaching 1,500 feet above mean sea level (MSL), at which time turns may be made to departure or assigned headings. An aircraft, failing to meet the noise standards of the Federal Air Regulations (FAR) Part 36, shall not take off or land between 10:00 p.m. and dawn, except that nothing herein shall be construed to prevent an emergency landing.
Full Breakdown
Section 3-67 of the Moore County Code sets the noise abatement procedure for the county-owned airport, governed by the board of commissioners and administered day to day by the airport manager and the fixed base operator (FBO) under Chapter 3, Article II. The rule targets multi-engine aircraft: on takeoff from Runway 5 or 23, pilots must maintain their takeoff heading until climbing through 1,500 feet MSL, only then turning toward their departure or assigned heading, which keeps departing traffic on a predictable, less disruptive track over the surrounding unincorporated area.
and dawn. The only carve-out is an emergency landing, which the ordinance expressly allows regardless of the hour or the aircraft's noise rating. 00 or imprisonment of not more than 30 days for each separate violation, with each day a violation continues treated as a separate offense. Airport rules sit alongside other airport-specific chapters covering ultralight aircraft (Article IV) and fixed base operator standards (Article V), all originally adopted by the Ordinance of October 6, 1986.
Violations & Fines
Violating the Runway 5/23 heading procedure or flying/landing after 10:00 p.m. without meeting FAR Part 36 noise limits is enforced under the general penalty, Moore County Code § 1-11: up to a $50.00 fine or 30 days imprisonment, with each day of continued violation charged as a separate offense. Emergency landings are exempt regardless of time or noise rating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly into Moore County Airport after 10 p.m.?
Which runway has the noise abatement heading procedure?
What happens if a pilot violates the noise abatement section?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Moore County
Compare Moore County to another location·View the North Carolina noise ordinances overview
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