Baytown, TX Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Allowed hours
- 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily
- Decibel cap
- 90 dB(A) at receiving residential property
- Covered tools
- Saws, drills, sanders, routers, grinders, mowers
- Legal basis
- Sec. 34-366(6) noise-code exception
- Outside the window
- General noise prohibition, Sec. 34-362, applies
Summary
Baytown lets residents run leaf blowers, lawnmowers, saws and other power lawn tools only between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., and only if the tool stays under 90 dB(A) measured from the neighboring residential property, under the Sec. 34-366(6) exception to the city's noise code.
Sound produced by operating or permitting the operation of any mechanically powered saw, drill, sander, router, grinder, lawn or garden tool, lawnmower, or any other similar device used between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., provided the device did not produce a sound exceeding 90 dB(A) when measured from residential property where the sound is being received and was used for the maintenance or upkeep of the property on which it was operated.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 83 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
This exception sits in Sec. 34-366, the list of activities exempt from prosecution under the general noise article. It covers mechanically powered saws, drills, sanders, routers, grinders, lawn or garden tools and lawnmowers used for the maintenance or upkeep of the property on which the tool is operated. , and the tool doesn't produce a sound exceeding 90 dB(A) measured from the residential property receiving the noise, a much higher ceiling than the ordinary 65-75 dB(A) limits in Sec. 34-363 because routine yard work is expected to be louder than ambient neighborhood noise.
It sits alongside a similar construction/demolition exception in Sec. 34-366(4), which uses the same hours and the same 90 dB(A) cap for building work. If either condition fails, the tool isn't automatically criminal, but it loses the shelter of the exception and falls back under the general noise prohibition in Sec. 34-362 and the numeric ceilings in Sec. 34-363, both enforceable by Baytown Police on citizen complaint or officer observation.
Violations & Fines
Running a leaf blower, mower, saw or similar tool before 7 a.m. or after 9 p.m., or above 90 dB(A) at the receiving residential property, forfeits the Sec. 34-366(6) exception. The operator can then be cited under the general noise prohibition, Sec. 34-362, or the Sec. 34-363 decibel ceiling, with fines under Sec. 1-14 running up to $500 and each day of continued violation treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time can I use a leaf blower in Baytown?
Is there a decibel limit for lawn equipment?
Does the leaf blower exception cover landscaping crews?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Baytown
How Baytown compares: Cities with the Strictest Leaf Blower Rules·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Baytown to another location·View the Texas noise ordinances overview
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Leaf Blower Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Harris County handle leaf blower rules.