Richland, WA Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)

Chapter 9.16, Public Nuisance Noise, otherwise bars amplified sound, construction, motor vehicle noise, and similar disturbances during set nighttime hours under § 9.16.045. Section 9.16.055 lists exemptions that apply at all times, seven days a week, regardless of the hour: subsection (A) covers "sounds originating from aircraft in flight and sounds that originate at airports which are directly related to flight operations." The same section exempts train sounds tied to train operations in (B), safety and protective devices where noise suppression would defeat their purpose or is not economically feasible in (C), work performed by or for the public works, energy services, parks and public facilities, or development services departments in (D), emergency equipment and public-safety work in (E), and sounds generated during city-hosted special events in (F).

Because the aircraft exemption is absolute rather than time-limited like the daytime carve-outs in § 9.16.050, neighbors near flight paths or the Richland Airport have no ordinance-based noise claim against flight operations, and Development Services staff who process the chapter's noise permits have no authority to act on aircraft-noise complaints. The exemption removes aircraft entirely from the § 9.16.070 violation and penalty scheme that otherwise applies to public disturbance noise, since flight operations are governed by federal aviation rules rather than municipal noise limits.