Check if a home is under Chicago O’Hare Airport flight paths before you buy.
Chicago O'Hare is now the busiest airport in the United States, handling over 80 million passengers in 2024 and setting all-time records in 2025 with more than 266,000 daily passengers. With this volume comes significant aircraft noise that affects dozens of suburbs and Chicago neighborhoods.
For homebuyers in the greater Chicago area, O'Hare flight paths should be a critical part of your due diligence. The airport's recent modernisation has fundamentally changed which communities bear the burden of aircraft noise—and the controversy continues today.
Which Chicago neighborhoods are under O'Hare flight paths?
O'Hare's runway configuration affects communities across a wide area of the northwest suburbs and parts of Chicago itself. The O'Hare Modernization Program (OMP) added new parallel east-west runways, significantly shifting noise patterns and affecting communities that were previously quieter.
Immediately adjacent suburbs (Most Affected)
Bensenville – Directly borders O'Hare; accepted $16 million settlement to stop fighting expansion
Elk Grove Village – Leading the legal fight against FAA; major noise impact from new runways
Wood Dale – Under multiple approach and departure paths
Schiller Park – Adjacent to airport with constant aircraft activity
Rosemont – Airport-adjacent with significant commercial and residential noise exposure
Western suburbs
Elmhurst – Increasingly affected by east-west runway operations
Itasca – Under departure corridors
Addison – Experiences noise from specific runway configurations
Bloomingdale – Affected by westbound departures
Northern suburbs
Park Ridge – Mayor actively pushing for new runway rotation plans (August 2025)
Des Plaines – Significant noise from northern approach paths
Niles – Under certain arrival corridors
Mount Prospect – Affected by northern operations
Chicago neighborhoods
Norwood Park – Chicago's northwest corner, directly impacted
Edison Park – Adjacent to suburban affected areas
O'Hare (neighborhood) – Named for the airport; highest Chicago impact
Sauganash – Affected by eastern approach patterns
Forest Glen – Under certain flight corridors
The O'Hare noise controversy: what homebuyers need to know
The O'Hare Modernization Program changed everything
The O'Hare Modernization Program (OMP), part of the larger O'Hare 21 project, was designed to reduce delays by reconfiguring the airport's runways into a more efficient parallel east-west layout. While the project succeeded in improving airport operations, it came at a significant cost to surrounding communities.
The new runway configuration concentrated flight paths over specific suburbs. Communities that had shared the noise burden more evenly now found themselves under near-constant aircraft traffic, while others experienced relief.
The FAIR plan and FAA rejection
Affected communities proposed the Fair Allocation in Runways (FAIR) plan, which would rotate runway usage to distribute noise more equitably across all surrounding areas. The logic was simple: if everyone shares the benefit of O'Hare's economic impact, everyone should share the noise burden.
In late 2023, the FAA rejected the FAIR proposal, arguing it would reduce airport efficiency. This decision sparked outrage among affected communities.
Elk Grove village sues the FAA
Following the FAA's rejection, Elk Grove Village filed a lawsuit against the FAA in October 2023, seeking to compel the agency to review all reasonable noise-sharing alternatives. The village argued that the FAA failed its duty to explore options that would distribute noise more fairly.
As of 2025, the legal battle continues, and Park Ridge's mayor has renewed calls for runway rotation plans as more residents contact local officials about increasing noise.
The "Fly Quiet" program's limitations
O'Hare operates a voluntary Fly Quiet program that encourages nighttime runway rotation, but critics argue it doesn't go far enough. The programme relies on airline cooperation and doesn't address daytime noise concentration.
Understanding O'Hare's runway system
O'Hare's modern configuration includes multiple parallel runways:
East-West Runways (Primary) – Handle the majority of traffic; noise concentrated on communities to the east and west
Diagonal Runways – Used in certain wind conditions; can shift noise to different areas
Runway Usage Varies – Wind direction, weather, and traffic volume all affect which runways are active
This complexity means that noise patterns can change significantly based on conditions. A home that seems quiet during one visit might be under heavy traffic at other times.
O'Hare Noise Tracking Tools
The Chicago Department of Aviation provides several resources:
Airport Noise Management System (ANMS) – Records over 150,000 flights and 400,000 noise events monthly
Fly Quiet Reports – Quarterly reports on runway utilisation and noise data
O'Hare Noise Compatibility Commission – Community organisation monitoring noise impacts
The Residential Sound Insulation Program (RSIP) offers soundproofing for eligible homes, but the programme has specific boundaries and waiting lists.
However, these tools are designed for current residents filing complaints—not for homebuyers trying to evaluate a property before purchase.
How to Check Flight Paths Before Buying Near O'Hare
Given O'Hare's complex runway system and ongoing controversies, checking flight paths before purchasing is essential for anyone buying in the Chicago suburbs. Don't rely on a single property visit—noise patterns vary by:
Time of day – Nighttime Fly Quiet procedures differ from daytime operations
Wind direction – Determines which runways are active
Season – Weather patterns affect runway selection
Traffic volume – Peak travel periods mean more flights
A comprehensive My Flight Path report analyses historical data across multiple time periods to give you an accurate picture of what to expect.
Frequently asked questions
How far from O'Hare can you hear aircraft noise?
Significant noise can extend 15+ miles from the airport. The ANMS system monitors noise across a wide area of Chicago and the suburbs. Communities like Park Ridge, several miles from the runways, report substantial ongoing noise issues.
Does aircraft noise affect property values near O'Hare?
Studies show airport noise can reduce property values by 5-15%. Bensenville's $16 million settlement with the airport authority reflects the acknowledged impact on that community's property values and quality of life.
Will the noise situation improve?
Ongoing legal challenges and community advocacy may eventually lead to changes. However, the FAA has historically prioritised airport efficiency over noise distribution. Any home purchase should assume current noise levels will continue or potentially increase.
Is there soundproofing assistance available?
The Residential Sound Insulation Program (RSIP) provides soundproofing for homes within certain noise contours. However, eligibility is limited and there may be waiting lists. This should not be relied upon as a solution when purchasing.
What about the proposed runway rotation?
Despite years of advocacy, the FAA rejected the FAIR runway rotation proposal in 2023. Legal challenges continue, but there's no guarantee of change. The current noise distribution may be permanent.
Check before you buy
Don't let aircraft noise turn your dream home into a regret. Get a detailed My Flight Path Flight Blight Report for any Chicago address before you make an offer.