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Union County, NC Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)

Few Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Local rule
None; aircraft noise exempted (§26-21(12))
Why
Field preempted by the FAA
Still regulated locally
Horns, construction, landscape equipment
Complaint channel
FAA, not county code enforcement

Summary

Unincorporated Union County's noise ordinance doesn't touch aircraft. Section 26-21(12) exempts 'noise created by any aircraft flight operations' from the county's nuisance-noise rules because that field is preempted by the Federal Aviation Administration, so residents near Charlotte-area flight paths have no local ordinance to complain under.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Union County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Noise created by any aircraft flight operations which are specifically preempted by the Federal Aviation Administration.

View official code

Full Breakdown

' That single sentence is the entirety of the county's treatment of aircraft noise: rather than setting decibel limits or curfews near any airstrip, the board simply recognizes that federal law occupies the field of aircraft operations, including takeoff and landing noise. The same Article II otherwise regulates a long list of everyday noise, from car horns under Section 26-20(1) to construction equipment under Section 26-21(8), all enforceable as a Class 3 misdemeanor under Section 26-22. Aircraft noise sits outside that entire enforcement scheme. Residents near general-aviation activity, including any operations tied to the Charlotte region's airports and airstrips, have no county ordinance, permit process, or curfew to invoke, and any complaint about flight noise has to go through the FAA's own complaint channels rather than the Union County Sheriff's Office or code enforcement.

Violations & Fines

There is no violation or penalty provision for aircraft noise: Section 26-21(12) removes it from the noise article entirely, and the county's Class 3 misdemeanor penalty in Section 26-22 only reaches the noise sources the article actually regulates, none of which include aircraft flight operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file a noise complaint against a nearby airstrip with Union County?
No. Section 26-21(12) exempts 'noise created by any aircraft flight operations' from the county's noise ordinance because the Federal Aviation Administration preempts that field, so the county has no ordinance or penalty to enforce against flight noise.
Does the county have quiet hours for planes taking off or landing?
No. Union County's noise article sets hours and equipment rules for construction and landscape noise under Section 26-21(8) and (9), but Section 26-21(12) removes aircraft operations from the article altogether, so no local curfew applies.
Where do I complain about aircraft noise if not to the county?
Since Section 26-21(12) defers entirely to federal preemption, complaints about flight noise go to the Federal Aviation Administration rather than the Union County Sheriff's Office or code enforcement, which have no jurisdiction under this section.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Union County

Construction HoursSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Chickens & LivestockSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsBarking DogsSome RestrictionsAmplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsVehicle NoiseSome RestrictionsLeaf Blower RulesSome RestrictionsDecibel LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesHeavy RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingLight RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Cat RulesSome Restrictions

All Union County rules

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