Moreno Valley, CA Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)

March Air Reserve Base sits on Moreno Valley's western edge and shares the airfield with the March Inland Port civilian cargo operation. Because aviation is governed by the Federal Aviation Act and military airspace authority, the City of Moreno Valley has no legal power to cap aircraft noise, set curfews, or reroute flight paths. This federal preemption is well-established: cities cannot enforce local noise ordinances against aircraft in flight or against federally controlled airfields. What Moreno Valley can regulate is ground noise at non-aviation sources and land-use compatibility in the MARB overlay zones, which restrict new residential construction in the highest noise contours (65+ CNEL). Residents bothered by C-17, KC-135, or cargo aircraft operations should direct complaints to the MARB Public Affairs office rather than the city. March ARB maintains a noise complaint line and tracks concentrations of complaints to inform operational planning, although it is not legally required to reduce flights. Disclosures at home purchase in certain Moreno Valley neighborhoods (west of I-215, Edgemont, parts of north Moreno Valley) typically warn buyers of MARB overhead activity. Helicopter law enforcement and medical flights are similarly preempted. The city enforces the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan through its zoning code for new development only.