Boulder, CO Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Curfew hours
- 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Covered area
- Residential district plus 100-foot buffer
- Covered tools
- Lawn mowers, leaf blowers, power garden tools
- Daytime protection
- 7 a.m.-9 p.m. use shielded under §5-9-3
- Penalty
- Up to $2,650 fine, 90 days jail
Summary
Boulder bans lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and other power lawn or garden tools between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. on private property within, or within 100 feet of, a residential district. Boulder Revised Code § 5-9-7(a) sets the curfew; a separate defense in § 5-9-3 otherwise shields lawn equipment used with a good muffler between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.
5-9-7. - Unreasonable Noise Prohibited Between the Hours of 9:00 p.m. Through 7:00 a.m. - Lawn Mowers, Leaf Blowers, and Construction. Between the hours of 9:00 p.m. through 7:00 a.m., no person shall: (a)Lawn Mowers and Leaf Blowers: Operate any lawn mower, leaf blower, or other power lawn or gardening tool on any private property within, or within one hundred feet of the boundary of, any residential district.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 167 Update 3).
Full Breakdown
violates the section regardless of how loud the equipment actually is. The 100-foot buffer means the ban reaches some commercial and industrial land too, if that land sits close enough to a residential boundary. period barred outright by § 5-9-7(a). lawn equipment as defenses but does not exempt gardening tools run during § 5-9-7(a)'s nighttime window. is to be entirely outside a residential district and more than 100 feet from its boundary.
Violations & Fines
A § 5-9-7(a) violation is punished under the citywide general penalty, Boulder Revised Code § 5-2-4: up to $2,650 and up to ninety days in jail per violation, or both, with jail available only where the city proves the person acted intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly. Boulder Police and code enforcement respond to nighttime lawn-equipment complaints and can cite the operator directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time can I use a leaf blower in Boulder?
Does the leaf blower curfew apply to commercial properties?
Is there a decibel limit for leaf blowers during the day?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Boulder
How Boulder compares: Cities with the Strictest Leaf Blower Rules·Compare Boulder to another location·View the Colorado noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Leaf Blower Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Boulder County handle leaf blower rules.