King County, WA Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)

The following sounds are exempt from this chapter:

A. Sounds originating from aircraft in flight and sounds that originate at airports and are directly related to flight operations;

B. Sounds created by the normal operation of commercial, nonrecreational watercraft;

C. Sounds created by normal docking and undocking operations of all watercraft;

D. Sounds created by watercraft picking up or dropping off waterskiers while operating within the temporary speed limit exemption authorized in K.C.C. 12.44.230;

E. Sounds created by safety and protective devices, such as relief valves, if noise suppression would defeat the safety intent of the device;

F. Sounds created by fire alarms;

G. Sounds created by warning devices of not more than fifteen minutes in duration per incident. For the purposes of this subsection, "warning device" means a device that is working as intended to provide public warning of potentially hazardous, emergency or illegal activities, including, but not limited to, a burglar alarm or vehicle backup signal, but not including any fire alarm;