This is the one true Sonoma County noise ordinance: Code Chapter 3, Article III limits aircraft noise at the County-owned Sonoma County Airport. Section 3-41 caps takeoff noise at 83.2 dBA (Lmax) during the day and 72 dBA (Lmax) at night, enforced by the Director of Aviation with fines and operating bans.
The only chapter of the Sonoma County Code titled 'Noise Control' (Chapter 3, Article III, sections 3-40 through 3-46) regulates aircraft noise at the Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport, which the County owns. Section 3-41 makes it unlawful to operate any aircraft at the airport between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. that exceeds 83.2 dBA (Lmax) on takeoff, or between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. that exceeds 72 dBA (Lmax) on takeoff. Compliance is determined by reference to FAA Advisory Circular 36-3E takeoff noise levels, with no adjustment for gross weight. Section 3-42 lets the Director of Aviation presume that aircraft types unable to meet these limits will violate them and bar them from the airport, subject to rebuttal. Section 3-44 sets penalties: a first violation is an infraction punishable by a $100 fine; a second or further violation within two years is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in county jail, or both. Section 3-45 exempts government, law-enforcement, firefighting, rescue, medical-emergency and declared-emergency flights. The ordinance (Ordinance No. 4440, 1991) is enforced by the Director of Aviation under California Penal Code section 836.5. Aircraft overflight noise generally — as opposed to airport operations — is primarily a matter of federal (FAA) jurisdiction. An excerpt appears below.
Under Code section 3-44, a first aircraft-noise violation is an infraction with a $100 fine; a second or further violation within two years is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $1,000, up to six months in county jail, or both. Aircraft repeatedly violating the limits can be barred from basing at or using the airport.
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