Richland County, SC Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Airport
- Jim Hamilton - L.B. Owens Airport (CUB)
- Noise rule
- Voluntary abatement only, no decibel or curfew cap
- Governing ordinance
- Ord. No. 001-24HR, adopted Feb. 6, 2024
- Reckless flying ban
- No buzzing, diving, or low-altitude stunt flying
- Land-use tool
- Airport Overlay District weighs projected aircraft noise
Summary
Richland County's airport ordinance sets no decibel cap or curfew on aircraft noise. Section 3-37 only requires the county-owned Jim Hamilton - L.B. Owens Airport to maintain and promote voluntary noise abatement procedures for its neighbors, while Section 3-38 separately bans reckless "buzzing," diving, and low-altitude stunt flying that generates the loudest complaints.
(Aircraft) noise abatement means those voluntary aircraft operating procedures developed for use in the vicinity of the airport that minimize the environmental effects of aircraft noise. ... The airport shall maintain and promote voluntary noise abatement procedures as a means of promoting harmonious conditions with the airport's neighboring commercial and residential communities.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-24: This supplement is current through Ordinance No. 033-25HR).
Full Breakdown
B. Owens Airport (identifier CUB), designated part of the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems and operated as a reliever for Columbia Metropolitan Airport, under Section 3-1 (Ord. No. 001-24HR, adopted Feb. 6, 2024). " Because the word "voluntary" appears in both, the ordinance imposes no enforceable decibel limit, curfew, or flight-path mandate on pilots using the field. Two other sections tie into noise complaints even though they are not framed as noise rules. 23.
Violations & Fines
The ordinance carries no fine schedule for noise itself since abatement is voluntary. Reckless "buzzing," diving, or low-altitude stunt flying under Section 3-38 is a citable offense enforced by airport management, and the Richland-Columbia Fire Service's ARFF unit responds to incidents. Unauthorized vehicles or pedestrians entering the airfield under Section 3-40 face issuance of a citation and a fine, and unapproved parachute jumps violate the FAA's prior-approval requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Richland County limit aircraft noise hours at Jim Hamilton Airport?
Can I complain about low-flying planes over my neighborhood?
Does the Airport Overlay District regulate how loud planes can be?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Richland County
Compare Richland County to another location·View the South Carolina noise ordinances overview
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