Alexandria, VA Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Gas leaf blower/vacuum
- banned at all times
- Electric equipment hours
- 7 a.m.-9 p.m. weekdays
- Weekend/holiday hours
- 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
- First penalty
- $100 civil fine
- Covered equipment
- mowers, edgers, trimmers, tillers
Summary
Alexandria bans gas-powered leaf blowers and leaf vacuums outright at all times under City Code § 11-5-4(16)(a); other power lawn and garden equipment, including electric blowers, is restricted to Table II hours: 7 a.m.-9 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.-9 p.m. weekends and holidays.
(16)Power lawn and garden equipment.(a)No person shall operate or permit the operation of any gas-powered leaf blowers or gas-powered leaf vacuums.(b)The operation or permitting the operation of any power lawn or garden equipment is prohibited during the times listed in Table II, except gas-powered leaf blowers or gas-powered leaf vacuums, whose use is prohibited at all times. TABLE II Prohibited Hours Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. / 9:00 p.m., Saturday, Sunday, Holidays 9:00 a.m. / 9:00 p.m.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 156 | Zoning: Supplement 103).
Full Breakdown
Section 11-5-4(16) of the noise control code addresses power lawn and garden equipment, defined in § 11-5-2(32) to include edgers, garden tractors, hedge clippers, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, tillers and trimmers. Subsection (16)(a) is an outright, all-hours ban: "No person shall operate or permit the operation of any gas-powered leaf blowers or gas-powered leaf vacuums." A "gas-powered leaf blower or gas-powered leaf vacuum" is defined in § 11-5-2(15.1) as any handheld, backpack or walk-behind leaf blower or vacuum powered directly by an internal combustion engine burning gasoline, diesel, alcohol or other liquid or gaseous fuel, so battery-electric and corded-electric blowers are not covered by the ban.
Subsection (16)(b) then restricts all other power lawn and garden equipment, electric leaf blowers included, to Table II's hours: 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and the holidays listed in § 11-5-5(a)(5)a. Operating any power mower, trimmer, edger or electric blower before or after those windows is a violation even though the equipment itself is legal.
Landscaping companies and homeowners are both bound by the same rule; the ban and the hours are enforced by the Department of Transportation and Environmental Services under § 11-5-8, with civil penalties under § 11-5-12 rather than a criminal charge.
Violations & Fines
Operating any gas-powered leaf blower or leaf vacuum at any time, or operating other power lawn and garden equipment outside Table II's hours, is a civil violation under § 11-5-12: $100 for a first offense, $250 for a second within seven days, and $500 for a third within 14 days of the first, with each additional hour counted separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are gas leaf blowers banned in Alexandria?
Can I use an electric leaf blower any time of day?
What's the penalty for using a banned gas leaf blower in Alexandria?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Alexandria
How Alexandria compares: Cities with the Strictest Leaf Blower Rules·Compare Alexandria to another location·View the Virginia noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.