Portola Valley Municipal Code Ch. 10.64 Airports

Pursuant to the authority conferred by Article XI, Section 11 of the Constitution of the state, the council deems it necessary to regulate the use of air space for the purpose of promoting the health, safety and general welfare of the inhabitants of the town by the preventing of the creation, maintenance or establishment of airport hazards, thereby protecting the lives and property of the inhabitants.

(Ord. 1965-36 § 1, 1965)

For the purposes of this chapter, the words set out in this section shall have the following meanings:

A. "Airport" means any area of land or water which is used or intended for use for the landing and taking off of aircraft, and any appurtenant areas which are used or intended for use as airport buildings or other airport facilities, or rights-of-way, together with all airport buildings and facilities located thereon, whether such area is utilized for public or private purposes.

B. "Aircraft" means any airplane, helicopter, or any other contrivance now known or hereafter invented, used or designed for navigation or flight in the air, except a parachute or other contrivance used primarily as safety equipment, whether the aircraft is publicly or privately owned, maintained, or operated.

(Ord. 1965-36 §§ 2 and 3, 1965)

Except in cases of emergency or for rescue missions, no person shall land any aircraft within the town except upon an airport approved by the town, except as hereinafter provided.

(Ord. 1965-36 § 4, 1965)

Applications for a permit for infrequent aircraft or helicopter landings shall be made in writing to the town and shall be accompanied by a map indicating the area to be utilized for landing purposes. The council may grant such application for infrequent landings, subject to such conditions as it may establish to protect the public health, safety and general welfare and to protect the surrounding property. The council may deny such an application for infrequent landings when, in its opinion, the granting of such permit will adversely affect the public health, safety and general welfare or the use and enjoyment of adjacent property in any way.

(Ord. 1965-36 § 5, 1965)

Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding ninety days, or by both such fine and imprisonment, and every day upon which a violation continues shall be deemed a separate offense and punishable as such.

(Ord. 1965-36 § 7, 1965)