Cal. Public Utilities Code § 21666

The department shall issue a permit if it is satisfied that all of the following requirements have been met: (a) The site meets or exceeds the minimum airport standards specified by the department in its rules and regulations, provided, however, that the department may modify its minimum airport standards when issuing a permit if it is satisfied that the airport will conform to minimum standards of safety. (b) Safe air traffic patterns have been established for the proposed airport and for all existing airports and approved airport sites in its vicinity. (c) The zone of approach of the airport has been engineered in conformity with the provisions of Section 21403, the documents relating thereto are available for public inspection. (d) The department when issuing a permit may impose reasonable conditions which it deems necessary to effectuate the purposes of this article. (e) The advantages to the public in selection of the site of a proposed new airport outweigh the disadvantages to the environment or, in the case of an amended permit, the advantages to the public of the proposed airport expansion outweigh the disadvantages to the environment. Environmental considerations include but are not limited to noise, air pollution, and the burden upon the surrounding area caused by the airport or airport expansion, including but not limited to, surface traffic and expense. The standards by which noise considerations are weighed shall be the level of noise acceptable to a reasonable person residing in the vicinity of the airport. The regulations adopted by the department pursuant to Section 21669 may be considered in determining such level of noise. Each permit issued by the department shall set forth any conditions imposed thereon, and any modification of the general minimum airport standards prescribed by the department relative to such airport or airport site. The department may refuse to issue a permit under this article if it determines that the requirements of this section have not been met. Any person denied a permit shall, upon request, be granted a hearing by the department to determine whether the permit should be issued.