Nevada County Municipal Code Ch. 1 Nevada County Airport Rules and Regulations

A. Airport shall mean airport and all airport property owned, operated, or controlled by the County of Nevada. It shall include all improvements, facilities, adjacent properties used to store, maintain, service or supply materials necessary for the servicing or maintenance of aircraft and appurtenances.

B. Airport Commission means five (5) members appointed by the Board of Supervisors.

C. Airport Manager shall mean the person assigned by the County Executive Officer to this position.

D. Board shall mean the Board of Supervisors of the County of Nevada, State of California.

E. County shall mean the County of Nevada, State of California.

F. F.A.A. shall mean the Federal Aviation Agency of the United States of America, as defined in the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, or any subsequent and successor body to that agency created for the control and operation of aviation and its related functions.

G. Fire Department shall mean the fire department within whose jurisdiction the airport lies.

H. Maintain Aircraft shall mean any form of service, maintenance, or repair of aircraft.

I. Operate Aircraft shall mean the self-propelled, pushed, or towed movement of aircraft on the ground, or the movement of aircraft in flight.

J. Owner shall mean the registered and/or legal owner of an aircraft according to the files and records of the F.A.A.

K. Person shall mean individuals, corporate entities, and public agencies.

L. Rules and Regulations shall mean the provisions contained herein and adopted by the Board pertaining to the use of the airport.

M. Airport Operations Area (AOA) is the portion of an airport designed and used for landing, take-off, or taxiing of aircraft. Taxiing aircraft are those moving under their own power between parking areas and runways. This is done on the ramps, taxiplanes, and taxiways.

(Ord. 2526. (06/13/2023))

A. Compliance with Rules and Regulations. No person shall operate or maintain any aircraft at any airport except in strict conformity with all ordinances, rules, and regulations of the County of Nevada and the regulations of the F.A.A. All aircraft shall be operated in accordance with air traffic patterns established by the County of Nevada and the F.A.A. All operators of aircraft are responsible for complete knowledge of all laws, rules and regulations relating to the operation of aircraft. Unusual performance tests of aircraft may be conducted only upon prior permission of the Airport Manager and only upon such conditions as the Airport Manager shall impose.

B. Landing and Take-Off. All aircraft shall land and take off only on designated runways unless specifically authorized by the Airport Manager to use other areas of the airport. No person shall land on or take off from the airport unless the aircraft is equipped with properly functioning brakes or other positive means to assure adequate ground control. The Airport Manager may suspend all operations during period of emergency.

C. Engine Starting and Run-Ups. No aircraft engine shall be started or run-up in any hangar or positioned in such manner as to constitute a danger to persons or property. All engine run-ups and tests shall be performed only in areas and at such times as shall be designated by the Airport Manager. No engine affixed to an aircraft shall be started or operated unless a competent aircraft operator is in the aircraft attending to the controls and the parking brakes are set or the wheels properly blocked to prevent movement.

D. Taxiing of Aircraft. Aircraft shall always be taxied at a slow and reasonable speed, in a safe manner and under control of a competent aircraft operator.

E. Loading of Aircraft. No passenger or freight shall be loaded or unloaded from any aircraft unless and until all engines on the aircraft have come to a complete stop.

F. Damage to Airport. All damage to the airport or airport property shall be promptly reported to the Airport Manager.

(Ord. 635. (06/05/1973); Ord. 2526. (06/13/2023))

A. Business Activities. No person shall use the airport in any manner whatsoever for any commercial, profit, gainful, or revenue producing purpose, including, without limitation, flight instruction or mechanical work, without written approval of the Airport Manager. No person shall distribute, post, or display any commercial or non-commercial signs, circulars, handbills or advertisements on the airport without the consent of the Airport Manager. No person shall solicit funds for any purpose without the permission of the Airport Manager.

B. Parking of Aircraft. No person shall park any aircraft in any area not designated for such purpose without prior consent of the Airport Manager. Parked aircraft shall have parking brakes set or wheels properly blocked to prevent movement and shall be firmly secured to the ground by ropes or other appropriate means when left unattended. No aircraft shall be taxied under its own power into or out of any hangar. Aircraft shall be halted, and all engines stopped before entering any hangar or building.

C. Charges for Parking Aircraft. The fee schedule for reserved and transient aircraft parking spaces in tie-down areas shall be implemented and updated by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.

D. Damaged Aircraft. Witnesses to and participants in any accident or damage to aircraft occurring at the airport shall promptly make a full report of such damage or accident to the nearest F.A.A. Safety Officer and to the Airport Manager. Aircraft operators, owners, or their agents shall be responsible for, and shall cooperate and assist in the prompt removal of damaged aircraft, parts, property or debris resulting from any accident; provided, however, that the Airport Manager or Officials of the F.A.A. may prohibit the movement or removal of any damaged aircraft or property.

E. Damage To Property. No person shall destroy or damage any building, structure, facility, sign, marker, or other property on the airport, unless authorized by the Airport Manager.

F. Landing Aircraft Fees. The schedule of charges for landing of private and commercial aircraft shall be implemented and updated by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.

H. Airport Operations Area (AOA). All persons be subject to all applicable Federal, State, local laws, regulations, and policies when in the AOA. Vehicles must yield to all aircraft, pedestrians, and emergency vehicles. The vehicle speed limit shall be fifteen (15) mph.

I. Dropping of Foreign Objects. No foreign objects (powder, liquid, solid or otherwise) may be dropped on the airport or airport property without permission of the Airport Manager.

J. Firearms. No person shall hunt, conduct target practice, or discharge firearms on the airport.

K. Aviation Fuel. The County of Nevada shall be the sole distributor of aviation fuel at the airport or shall provide by contract for the manner of distribution of such product.

L. Model Airplanes and Drones. Model airplanes or drones shall not be operated from any location where they could fly over, or land on, the airport or airport property except when authorized by the Airport Manager for special events.

M. Lease of Airport Property. Pursuant to Cal. Gov't Code § 25536, and notwithstanding any other provision set forth in the County Codes relating to the lease of County property, the Board of Supervisors may, by four-fifths (⅘) vote, enter into leases, concessions, or managerial contracts involving leasing or subleasing of all or any part of County-owned, leased or managed property devoted to or held for use as an airport without complying with the formal bidding or alternative procedures set forth in Cal. Gov't Code §§ 25520—25539.10. Lease rates for County owned hangars shall be as negotiated by the Airport Manager and as approved by the Board of Supervisors.

Any person desiring to use any space including tie-down spaces shall be required to obtain a Reserved Space Permit and agree to abide by its terms. In addition, all parties desiring to place a hangar on County property shall be required to obtain an Encroachment Permit and agree to abide by its terms. All parties desiring "through the fence" access to the Airport shall obtain an Encroachment Permit.

Reserved Space Permits and Encroachment Permits may be changed by the County, from time to time, and all current occupants may be required to execute current agreements in order to remain on the premises or continue getting access to the premises. Failure to execute a new agreement on request of the Airport Manager shall be grounds for termination of the right to occupy a space at the Airport.

(Ord. 2526. (06/13/2023))

A. Insurance Required. No person shall base or maintain an aircraft at the airport unless such person shall file with the Airport Manager, and keep in current effect, a certificate of property damage and general liability insurance executed by a company authorized to carry on insurance business in this State, insuring coverage in the minimum amounts as noted in permit or lease agreement.

(Ord. 2526. (06/13/2023))

A. No person shall operate any electric or gas welding or cutting equipment anywhere on the Airport without prior written approval of the Airport Manager.

B. No person shall store or stock material or equipment so as to constitute a fire hazard.

C. No person shall store or place any flammable liquids, solids, gasses, signal flares or similar hazardous materials within any hangar or building except in areas or rooms specifically approved by the Airport Manager. Such storage shall be contained within approved containers bearing the label of the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. and shall not exceed a five (5)-gallon maximum container in size.

D. All tenants of buildings shall provide approved metal containers equipped with sealing covers for the storage of oily wastes, rags, and similar combustible materials.

E. All tenants of buildings shall maintain the floors of hangars, hangar ramps and adjacent areas free and clear of oil, grease, and other flammable materials.

F. No person shall use flammable substances for cleaning floors of hangars or other buildings.

G. Cleaning of aircraft engines or other parts using solvents shall be limited in scope and only nonflammable or high flashpoint (one hundred (100) degrees F. or greater) solvents shall be used. Drip and collecting pans shall be used during any cleaning process.

H. Painting and doping of aircraft shall be conducted only in authorized areas under permit issued by the Airport Manager.

I. Every person who becomes aware of any fire or smoldering combustion of any unwarranted or insidious nature, which is not confined within equipment designated for fire or which is a hazard to the premises shall report said fire or smoldering combustion without delay to the local fire department and the Airport Manager.

J. Portable fire extinguishers shall be provided as required and approved by the Airport Manager and shall not be moved for any reason other than to fight a fire or to be recharged.

K. Access to all fire extinguishing equipment shall always be kept free and unobstructed. Portable fire extinguishers shall be inspected periodically by the Airport Manager and recertified annually by the tenant, owner, or responsible party.

L. For aircraft fueling regulations, the National Fire Protection Association Standard 407 is adopted herein by reference. All persons using or occupying the airport shall be required to have full knowledge of the terms and conditions of NFPA Standard 407.

(Ord. 2526. (06/13/2023))

B. All persons using the airport shall be subject to, and governed by, these rules and regulations, all County ordinances, State and Federal laws and F.A.A. rules and regulations.

C. Any person using or entering the airport for any purpose shall be responsible for full and complete knowledge of, and compliance with the rules and regulations.

D. The Airport Manager shall interpret the rules and regulations. Requests for review of any interpretation shall be made in writing to the Airport Manager.

E. Any person finding lost articles on the airport shall immediately deposit them at the Airport's Administration office.

All lessees and persons using the airport shall be responsible for the cleanliness of their respective area and for the removal of all trash and debris.

(Ord. 635. (06/05/1973); Ord. 2526. (06/13/2023))