Monterey County Code Section 10.60.030 expressly does not apply to aircraft. Aircraft noise is preempted by federal law and regulated under the California State Aeronautics Act and the Monterey Peninsula Airport District's voluntary program.
Section 10.60.030 of the Monterey County Code expressly states that its prohibition on devices producing more than 85 dBA at 50 feet 'shall not apply to aircraft.' Aircraft noise in flight is preempted by federal aviation regulation, and at the state level the California Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics adopts and enforces noise standards for airports under the State Aeronautics Act (California Public Utilities Code § 21669 et seq., implemented in 21 CCR § 5000 et seq., the Airport Noise Standards). The Monterey Peninsula Airport District operates a voluntary Fly Quiet program and noise-abatement recommendations; the District voted in September 2025 to repeal three of its prior noise ordinances on counsel's advice that mandatory restrictions exposed the airport to federal preemption challenges. County residents have no direct local enforcement remedy against in-flight aircraft noise.
There is no County-level penalty for aircraft noise. Complaints should be directed to the Monterey Peninsula Airport District noise office or to the FAA. Airports themselves may face state enforcement action by Caltrans Aeronautics if they fail to meet 21 CCR § 5000 community noise equivalent level (CNEL) standards.
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