Upland, CA Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)

The City of Upland does not - and largely cannot - regulate aircraft operational noise directly. Aircraft operations and airspace are governed by the Federal Aviation Administration under federal law, which broadly preempts local control of how and when aircraft fly; California's airport noise standards (Title 21 of the California Code of Regulations) and the Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL) metric supplement that federal framework at the state level. Upland's own noise code reflects this: Section 9.40.050 says exterior noise measurements are not made during extraordinary times such as the movement of a nearby airplane, effectively excluding overflight noise from enforcement under Chapter 9.40. What the city does control is land use around Cable Airport (KCCB), a privately owned general-aviation airport within Upland. The Cable Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan, published by the City of Upland, addresses noise, safety, airspace and overflight compatibility for development in the airport influence area, which spans parts of San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties and the cities of Upland and Montclair. Because San Bernardino County does not maintain a standalone airport land use commission, the plan is prepared and implemented through an alternative process authorized by California Public Utilities Code Section 21670.1. The plan uses CNEL noise contours to guide where noise-sensitive uses such as homes and schools may be placed, rather than imposing a citywide aircraft decibel limit. So residents bothered by aircraft noise are generally directed to the FAA or the airport rather than to city code enforcement.