Wake County Code §92.04(A)(2) exempts lawn care equipment and agricultural activities from the noise pollution ordinance during DAYTIME HOURS (7 a.m. - 11 p.m.). There is no gas-leaf-blower ban in unincorporated Wake County, and no decibel cap — only the daytime-only restriction and the general "unreasonable noise" standard.
Gas-powered leaf blowers, mowers, string trimmers, chainsaws and similar lawn-care equipment may be used between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. without further restriction in the unincorporated county. Outside that window, operation could violate §92.03(A)(1) (general prohibition on unreasonable noise) or §92.05(H) if the work resembles construction. The 2023 rewrite kept the daytime carve-out intact. The City of Raleigh has its own rules (Code Ch. 5) — Raleigh restricts construction-type lawn equipment to 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. in residential zones — and Cary, Apex, and Wake Forest each set their own hours.
Lawn care during the 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. window is exempt. Operation outside that window can be cited as unreasonable noise under §92.03; a Class 3 misdemeanor with a fine up to $500 per day under §92.07(D).
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Wake County.
See how other cities in Wake County handle leaf blower rules.
See how Cary's leaf blower rules rules stack up against other locations.
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