Maricopa County, AZ Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Innermost zone
- AD I bars nearly all land uses
- Human occupancy
- Banned in AD I, II, and III
- Noise threshold
- AD IV lies within the 75 Ldn contour
- Permit required
- Special Use Permit from Board of Supervisors
- Enforcement
- County Zoning Inspector and Sheriff enforce
Summary
Land near Luke Air Force Base with the highest aircraft noise exposure is zoned Airport District One, where the county bans human occupancy and requires a Special Use Permit for any development due to high noise levels and severe accident risk.
This district is designed to regulate land use and reduce hazards in an area characterized by high noise levels and a severe accident potential resulting from military aircraft operations. Only those types of activities authorized by this Article may be permitted, and permitted uses shall be subject to the requirements for a Special Use Permit contained in Article V.
Full Breakdown
Maricopa County's Military Airport Zoning Ordinance carves six Airport Districts around Luke Air Force Base, keyed to noise contours measured in day-night average sound level (Ldn): AD IV covers land within the 75 Ldn contour, AD V the area between 70 and 75 Ldn, and AD VI between 65 and 70 Ldn. In the innermost ring, AD I, the ordinance states the district exists to reduce hazards in an area of high noise levels and severe accident potential, bars all industrial, commercial, service, public, and outdoor-recreation uses outright, and requires a Special Use Permit from the Board of Supervisors for any activity that is allowed, with all human-occupancy development prohibited in AD I, AD II, and AD III.
Violations & Fines
Development in AD I, AD II, or AD III without a Special Use Permit and Military Airport Zoning Clearance is enforced by the county Zoning Inspector and the Sheriff, with violation and penalty rules following the county's general Zoning Ordinance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build a house near Luke Air Force Base in unincorporated Maricopa County?
How are the Airport Districts near Luke AFB drawn?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Maricopa County
Compare Maricopa County to another location·View the Arizona noise ordinances overview
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