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

Some Restrictions

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

Key Facts

Restricted hours: 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Standard: Unreasonably loud AND reaches a dwelling
Covers: Gas blowers, power fans, combustion engines
Daytime use: Governed by general 50/60 dBA caps
Enforcing agency: Clackamas County Sheriff's Office

Summary

Running a gas leaf blower, power fan, or other internal-combustion blower between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. is a per se noise violation in unincorporated Clackamas County if it is unreasonably loud and reaches a dwelling or noise-sensitive area, under Code 6.05.040(B)(12). Daytime blower use is unrestricted by this specific clause and instead governed by the chapter's general decibel caps.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Clackamas County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

12. Blowers, and Similar Devices: Between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. the following day, the operation of any noise-creating blower, power fan, or any internal combustion engine, the operation of which causes noise due to the explosion of operating gases or fluids, provided that the noise is unreasonably loud and is received or perceived in dwellings or noise sensitive areas.
13. Commercial Establishments Adjacent to Dwellings: Unreasonably loud and raucous noise from the premises of any commercial establishment, including any outdoor area which is part of or under control of the establishment, between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. that is plainly audible at a distance of five feet from any dwelling.
[Added by Ord. 08-2020, 10/1/20; Amended by Ord. 04-2025, 12/4/25]

View official code

Full Breakdown

' The internal-combustion language reaches gas-powered leaf blowers, but also power fans and any small engine that produces noise from combustion, so it is not limited to landscaping equipment. Unlike the flat construction-hours ban in (B)(11), this clause keeps a reasonableness qualifier: a blower running briefly at low volume late at night that does not reach a noise-sensitive area is not automatically a violation, while one that is loud enough to disturb a neighboring dwelling is. 040(A). does not list blowers by name, so daytime blower use is governed by the general per se decibel limits rather than a tool-specific carve-out.

Violations & Fines

A blower-noise citation carries the same penalty path as any Chapter 6.05 violation: fourteen days to pay the Board-set fine under 6.05.100 or request a hearing under Section 2.07.040. The Sheriff's Office issues the citation and can seize the blower as evidence if the same equipment has drawn two prior citations within six months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a gas leaf blower at night in unincorporated Clackamas County?

Not if it is unreasonably loud and reaches a dwelling or noise-sensitive area between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Code Section 6.05.040(B)(12) makes that combination a per se violation; a quiet, brief use late at night that does not reach a neighbor's home is not automatically cited.

Is there a specific decibel number for leaf blowers?

No. Section 6.05.040(B)(12) uses a reasonableness standard, not a fixed decibel figure, for nighttime blower noise. During the day, blower noise instead falls under the chapter's flat 50 dBA night and 60 dBA day limits in Section 6.05.040(A) if a complaint is measured.

Does the construction tool exemption cover leaf blowers?

No. Section 6.05.060(I) exempts drills, chain saws, lawnmowers, saws, and hammers between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., but does not list blowers. Daytime blower operation is instead governed by the general per se noise limits in Section 6.05.040(A) rather than that tool-specific carve-out.

Sources & Official References

[1]Clackamas County Code Chapter 6.05 - Noise Control

Other rules in Clackamas County

Quiet HoursSome Restrictions Construction HoursSome Restrictions Aircraft NoiseFew Restrictions Decibel LimitsSome Restrictions Barking DogsSome Restrictions Vehicle NoiseSome Restrictions Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Curb Color RulesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSome Restrictions Animal Ordinances: Bird ProtectionHeavy Restrictions Animal Ordinances: MicrochippingSome Restrictions Landscaping Rules: CompostingLight Restrictions

All Clackamas County rules

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

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