Queen Anne's County, MD Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Queen Anne's County Code § 18:1-95C
- Facilities covered
- Airports, private landing strips, public or private heliports
- Noise tools
- Buffer yards and noise abatement devices
- Decision maker
- Board of Appeals sets conditions on arrivals and aircraft size
- Structure setback
- At least 100 feet from any street or lot line
- Civil zoning fine
- $500 preset fine, each day a separate violation
Summary
In unincorporated Queen Anne's County, airports, private landing strips and heliports can be required to install buffer yards or noise abatement devices. The Board of Appeals weighs impacts on adjacent residential areas and can restrict arrivals, departures and aircraft size under § 18:1-95C of the Queen Anne's County Code.
C. Airports, landing strips, and heliports. (1) Airports, private airports, private landing strips, and private or public heliports may be required to install buffer yards and/or other noise abatement devices to insure that surrounding properties and public rights-of-way are protected from adverse impacts of the use. ... (5) The Board of Appeals shall consider the impact a proposed airport, private airport, private landing strip, or private or public heliport may have upon adjacent residential areas and may include such conditions in its approval of the proposed use as it considers advisable to preserve the quiet enjoyment of such residential areas including, but not limited to, restrictions on: (a) Arrivals or departures; (b) Maximum size of aircraft allowed to arrive at or depart from the facility; and (c) Other noise and nuisance abatement procedures not inconsistent with safe aviation practices or applicable state or federal regulations.
Full Breakdown
Aircraft noise in unincorporated Queen Anne's County is handled through land-use conditions on the facility, not through a decibel limit on individual flights. Section 18:1-95C of the Queen Anne's County Code covers airports, private airports, private landing strips, and private or public heliports. Paragraph (1) says these facilities may be required to install buffer yards and/or other noise abatement devices to insure that surrounding properties and public rights-of-way are protected from adverse impacts of the use.
Paragraph (5) directs the Board of Appeals to consider the impact a proposed facility has upon adjacent residential areas. The Board can attach conditions it considers advisable to preserve the quiet enjoyment of those areas, including restrictions on arrivals or departures, the maximum size of aircraft allowed to arrive at or depart from the facility, and other noise and nuisance abatement procedures not inconsistent with safe aviation practices or applicable state or federal regulations.
The application carries its own requirements. Under paragraph (2) the applicant must demonstrate that the facility meets the standards of the State Aviation Administration of the Maryland Department of Transportation and all other applicable state, federal and municipal agency regulations. Paragraph (3) requires a scaled plan showing the layout of runways, landing strips or pads, taxiways, aprons, hangars and structures, plus the location and height of all buildings, structures, trees and overhead wires within approach and departure patterns and less than 500 feet from the boundary lines. Paragraph (4) adds the location of all existing airports, private airports, private landing strips and heliports within a five-mile radius.
Physical standards also hold noise at the property line. Under paragraph (7), any building, hangar or other structure shall be at least 100 feet from any street or lot line, and paragraph (8) requires all major repairs of aircraft and machinery to be conducted inside hangars. Paragraph (6) lets the Board of Appeals approve temporary use of private airports or landing strips by agricultural spraying or fertilizing aircraft only under conditions consistent with impacts on adjacent lands and uses.
Near the public airport on Kent Island, § 18:1-34G(2) of the Airport Protection and Kent Island Gateway District adds that, unless otherwise recommended by the Airport Manager, development with structures adjacent to the airport shall provide fencing, berming or a landscaping buffer to minimize impacts of noise and glare from the airport to the proposed development and from the proposed development to the airport.
Violations & Fines
The Planning Director is authorized and directed to enforce Chapter 18:1 under § 18:1-208. An act that violates any express covenant or condition of an approval given by the Planning Commission, the Board, or the Planning Director is a civil zoning violation under § 18:1-212C(2)(e), with an original preset fine of $500. Operating a use that requires a conditional use permit without obtaining one carries the same $500 under (h). Each day is a separate violation, and unpaid fines draw an additional fine of twice the original amount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Queen Anne's County limit how loud aircraft can be?
Who decides whether a new private airstrip or heliport is approved?
What noise rules apply next to the airport on Kent Island?
What is the penalty for ignoring a condition set by the Board?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Queen Anne's County
Compare Queen Anne's County to another location·View the Maryland noise ordinances overview
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