Aircraft-in-flight noise is federally preempted: the FAA and pilot-in-command have sole jurisdiction over flight paths, so Tustin cannot regulate overflights. Section 4617(j) of the Tustin City Code exempts activity preempted by state or federal law. Former MCAS Tustin closed in 1999; nearby John Wayne Airport has an 11 p.m.-7 a.m. jet curfew set by the County.
Tustin has no enforceable ordinance over aircraft noise in flight. Federal law gives the FAA and each aircraft's pilot-in-command exclusive jurisdiction over flight paths and altitudes, so only the FAA can act on in-flight noise. Tustin's own code recognizes this: Section 4617(j) exempts 'any activity to the extent regulation thereof has been preempted by state or federal law.' The Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Tustin, with its landmark blimp hangars, closed in 1999 and no longer generates military aircraft noise; the site is being redeveloped as Tustin Legacy. The closest commercial airport is John Wayne Airport (JWA) in nearby Santa Ana/Orange County, which operates under a noise curfew limiting commercial jet operations generally between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. as established by the 1985 Settlement Agreement and Master Plan. That curfew is administered by the County of Orange as airport proprietor, not by the City of Tustin, and the County itself notes it has no authority over aircraft once in flight. Residents bothered by overflight noise are directed to the FAA or the JWA noise office rather than to Tustin Code Enforcement.
There are no city penalties for aircraft overflight noise because the field is federally preempted (Section 4617(j)). Commercial-flight curfew matters at John Wayne Airport are handled by the County/airport noise office and the FAA.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Under California SB 1383, Tustin requires residents to keep organic waste out of the trash. CR&R provides a three-cart system, and food scraps and yard trimm...
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Tustin runs its own water utility and imposes permanent restrictions under City Code Sec. 4953: irrigation 4 days/week (Apr-Oct) or 3 days/week (Nov-Mar), no...
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Orange County.
See how other cities in Orange County handle aircraft noise.
See how Tustin's aircraft noise rules stack up against other locations.
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