Imperial County, CA Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)

Unincorporated Imperial County does not have a leaf-blower-specific ordinance. The County's noise rules in Title 9, Division 7 (Noise Abatement and Control) do not name leaf blowers, set blower-only hours, or cap blower decibels separately. Leaf blower use is instead governed by the same general framework as other equipment: the one-hour average sound level limits in Section 90702.00 (which are lower at night, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.) and the general nuisance prohibition in Section 90703.00 against disturbing, excessive or offensive noise that annoys a reasonable person of normal sensitivity. On the equipment side, California regulates leaf blowers at the state level. Under Assembly Bill 1346 and the California Air Resources Board's Small Off-Road Engine (SORE) regulations, the sale of new gas-powered leaf blowers and similar small off-road engine equipment is being phased out, with zero-emission standards applying to most new equipment beginning with model year 2024. That state rule is an emissions and sales restriction on manufacturers, not a local use-hour or decibel limit, and residents may continue using CARB-compliant equipment they already own. Anyone seeking firm blower-use limits in a specific neighborhood should check whether project- or HOA-level conditions apply, since the base County ordinance only provides the general sound-level and nuisance standards.