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Washington County, OR Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Rule type
muffling required, not an hours ban
Governing section
WCC § 8.24.040(H)
Overlap rule
10 p.m.-7 a.m. curfew via § 8.24.040(B)
First-offense fine
up to $500
Equipment seizure
up to 7 days
Scope
unincorporated county only

Summary

Washington County Code § 8.24.040(H) doesn't set leaf-blower hours: it requires every blower or power fan to be 'properly muffled' with a muffler device sufficient to reduce noise, at any time of day. An unmuffled blower is a prima facie noise violation in unincorporated Washington County, enforced the same as the rest of Chapter 8.24.

City-specific rules exist: Beaverton, and Hillsboro have their own leaf blower rules rules that differ from Washington County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

H.Blowers and Motor-Driven Cycles. The operation of any blower or power fan unless the noise from such blower or fan is properly muffled and such engine is equipped with a muffler device sufficient to reduce such noise.

Source: Washington County CodeView official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Community Development Code: Supplement 2 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 25).

Full Breakdown

Washington County's noise ordinance does not carve out a specific hours restriction for leaf blowers the way some cities do. ' The requirement is equipment-based rather than time-based: an unmuffled or poorly muffled gas blower violates the chapter regardless of what hour it runs, while a properly muffled unit is not independently restricted by subsection H. 030 standards, volume, intensity, whether the noise is 'plainly audible' within a noise-sensitive unit, and time of day, govern any disputed case. 065 to abate a repeat violation. This rule reaches only unincorporated Washington County; landscaping crews working inside Hillsboro, Beaverton or the county's other cities are subject to those cities' own equipment rules, not this section.

Violations & Fines

Running a blower or power fan without adequate muffling violates § 8.24.040(H) regardless of the hour. If the same unmuffled blower is also plainly audible on a public street or in a neighboring home between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., § 8.24.040(B) applies too. Section 8.24.080 fines run up to $500 first offense, $1,000 for a repeat within two years, and the blower itself can be seized for seven days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Washington County restrict what time of day you can use a leaf blower?
Not directly. § 8.24.040(H) requires blowers and power fans to be properly muffled at all times rather than setting fixed hours. But if an unmuffled blower is plainly audible on a public street or inside a neighbor's home between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., the general nighttime curfew in § 8.24.040(B) can also apply.
What makes a blower non-compliant under county code?
Section 8.24.040(H) requires the blower's engine to carry 'a muffler device sufficient to reduce such noise.' A blower running without that muffling, or with a muffler that doesn't adequately cut the noise, is prima facie evidence of a violation, whether it's a residential landscaper's backpack blower or larger commercial equipment.
Can the county confiscate a landscaper's blower for a noise violation?
Yes. Section 8.24.065 lets the citing peace officer seize equipment used to create the noise violation, including a blower, for up to seven days to stop a repeat violation. If it isn't claimed within fifteen days of a follow-up notice, the sheriff may treat it as abandoned after thirty days and dispose of it.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Washington County

Quiet HoursSome RestrictionsConstruction HoursSome RestrictionsAmplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsAircraft NoiseSome RestrictionsVehicle NoiseSome RestrictionsDecibel LimitsSome RestrictionsBarking DogsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Towing & Impound RightsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingLight RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome Restrictions

All Washington County rules

How Washington County compares: Cities with the Strictest Leaf Blower Rules·Compare Washington County to another location·View the Oregon noise ordinances overview

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Leaf Blower Rules in Cities Across Washington County

Hillsboro, ORBeaverton, OR