Aircraft Noise Ordinance — Mandatory Restrictions KSMO local VFR procedures
Not for navigation. Verify against the official sources linked below before flight.
noise abatement Regulatory / ordinance — MANDATORY verified 2026-08-27 (43 d ago)
Compliance is required by law — federal regulation or a local ordinance with enforcement authority.
City ordinance, enforced with fines: 95 dBA SENEL limit, night departure/engine-start curfew 2300-0700 (0800 weekends), intersection departures and formation operations prohibited, touch-and-go restrictions.
The route
- Maximum noise level 95.0 dBA Single Event Noise Exposure Level (SENEL), measured 2,200' from either runway end
- No takeoffs or engine starts (including APU) 2300-0700 Monday-Friday, or until 0800 on weekends; bona fide medical or public safety emergencies exempt
- Intersection departures are prohibited; formation takeoffs and landings are prohibited
- Touch-and-go, stop-and-go and low approaches are prohibited on weekends, holidays, and weekdays from one half hour after sunset until 0700 the following day
- Prior permission required from the Airport Director for dual-wheel aircraft in excess of 60,000 lbs MCLW
When it applies
- Runway 3 or 21 — all operations City ordinance; applies to the airport as a whole
Source text, verbatim
Mandatory Restrictions The following procedures and limitations are enforced per the City's Aircraft Noise Ordinance. Violations may result in the imposition of fines and/or exclusion from Santa Monica Airport. - Maximum Noise Level: 95.0 dBA Single Event Noise Exposure Level (SENEL) as measured 2,200' from either end of the runway. - Intersection departures are prohibited. - Formation takeoffs and landings are prohibited. - Touch and go, stop and go and low approaches are prohibited weekends, holidays, and weekdays one half hour after sunset until 7am the following day. - Prior Permission Required from the Airport Director for dual wheel aircraft in excess of 60,000 lbs. MCLW. Mandatory Night Departure Curfew No takeoffs or engine starts, including Auxiliary Power Units (APU) between 11pm and 7am Monday through Friday or until 8am on weekends. Exceptions are allowed for bona fide medical or public safety emergencies only.
The text above is the published source wording and is authoritative over any summary on this page.
Sources
- City of Santa Monica — SMO VFR Pilot's Guide, Fixed-Wing Propeller Aircraft (2023): "Mandatory Restrictions" City of Santa Monica · retrieved 2026-08-27
- City of Santa Monica — Fly Neighborly Program (curfew and noise limit FAQ) City of Santa Monica · retrieved 2026-08-27