Imperial County, CA Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)

Aircraft noise in unincorporated Imperial County is handled differently from ground-source noise. The County's noise ordinance (Title 9, Division 7) does not set decibel limits on aircraft in flight; under federal law, the FAA holds primary authority over aircraft noise and flight operations, which preempts most local in-flight noise regulation. Within the County ordinance, Section 90702.00(E) expressly provides that the one-hour average sound-level limits do not apply to noise generated by helicopters at heliports or helistops that are authorized by a conditional use permit. Instead of regulating flight noise directly, Imperial County addresses aircraft compatibility through land use tools: Title 9, Division 6 establishes Airport Zoning to control land uses around airports, and the County, through its Airport Land Use Commission and General Plan Noise Element, manages noise-sensitive development near airfields using Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL) contours. The County operates and oversees several public-use airports and airstrips serving unincorporated communities. Residents experiencing aircraft noise generally direct concerns to the FAA or the airport operator rather than County code enforcement, because the County land use ordinance does not provide a decibel-based remedy for aircraft overflights. For ground-based airport equipment and adjacent activities not in flight, the general nuisance and sound-level provisions of Division 7 may still apply.