Noise-Based Curfew KSJC local VFR procedures
Not for navigation. Verify against the official sources linked below before flight.
noise abatement Regulatory / ordinance — MANDATORY verified 2026-08-28 (42 d ago)
Compliance is required by law — federal regulation or a local ordinance with enforcement authority.
City ordinance: Stage II barred 2300-0700, louder Stage III barred 2330-0630, enforced at $2,500 per occurrence.
The route
- FAR 36 Stage II aircraft may not operate between 2300 and 0700
- FAR 36 Stage III aircraft at or below 89.0 EPNdB, or a grandfathered Stage 3 jet on the Schedule of Authorized Aircraft, may operate between 2330 and 0630
- Violations draw an administrative citation of $2,500 per occurrence, appealable to the Airport Commission
- Exemptions cover events beyond the operator's control — weather, mechanical problems, air traffic control, security delays, emergency operations, and government aircraft
- High-power jet engine testing is normally prohibited during curfew hours but can be authorised after 0430 if the aircraft has a scheduled departure after 0630
When it applies
- Runway 12L or 12R or 30L or 30R — all operations The curfew is a time-of-day and aircraft-noise-level restriction; it names no runway
Source text, verbatim
SJC Curfew Information In October 2003, San José Mineta International Airport (SJC), with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval, revised the curfew portion of its noise control program from a weight-based curfew to a noise-based curfew, including enforcement provisions where operators can be fined $2,500 for curfew intrusions. Noise-Based Curfew FAR 36 Stage II aircraft may not operate between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. FAR 36 Stage III aircraft at or below 89.0 EPNdB per FAR AC 36-1H average of takeoff/sideline/approach noise levels, or any other "grandfathered" Stage 3 Jet Aircraft can operate between the hours of 11:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Enforcement Provisions — Administrative Citation Fines — $2,500 per occurrence — Fines Appealable to Airport Commission [Schedule of Authorized Aircraft, issued 11/9/2022:] This document constitutes the Schedule of Authorized Aircraft issued by the Director of Aviation pursuant to Section 25.03.255 of Chapter 25.03 of the San Jose Municipal Code.
The text above is the published source wording and is authoritative over any summary on this page.
Sources
- San José Mineta International Airport — SJC Curfew Information City of San José · retrieved 2026-08-28
- City of San José — Schedule of Authorized Aircraft, issued under San José Municipal Code §25.03.255 (Issued 11/9/2022) City of San José · retrieved 2026-08-28