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Colonie, NY Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)

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

Key Facts

Curfew hours
10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Applies to
Residential property only
Covered equipment
Power tools, mowers, leaf blowers, ag equipment
Snow equipment
Exempt at any hour with muffler
First offense fine
$50 to $250

Summary

Colonie's noise ordinance bans running power tools, lawn mowers, leaf blowers or agricultural equipment on residential property between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. There's no seasonal or gas-engine ban, just a nighttime curfew enforced by police under the same penalty schedule as the rest of the noise chapter.

No person shall cause or permit to be caused noise from power tools, lawn mowers, leaf blowers or agricultural equipment when operated on a residential property between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4902401; v37 updated 2026-05-28; through 05-28-2026).

Full Breakdown

m. violates the rule just as a loud gas model would; it also applies only to residential property, leaving commercial and industrial parcels to the separate 65 dBA and 75 dBA nighttime limits in §135-5F and §135-5G. The chapter carves out a parallel exception for snow removal equipment, so plows, blowers and sanders may run at night as long as they carry a working muffler (§135-8E), and agricultural equipment operated on a farm is exempt from the noise chapter's decibel limits entirely under §135-8D, even though §135-5E still names agricultural equipment among the covered residential noise sources during the curfew window.

The Town of Colonie Police Department enforces the curfew (§135-9), and a resident who needs relief from the hours restriction can seek a special variance from the Zoning Board under §135-11 by documenting the equipment, sound characteristics and hardship and notifying neighbors within 200 feet.

Violations & Fines

A first conviction for running a leaf blower or mower after 10 p.m. carries a $50 to $250 fine or up to seven days in jail under §135-10; a second conviction raises the fine to $100-$250 and up to 10 days, and a third or later conviction carries at least a $250 fine and up to 15 days. Each night the curfew is broken after a citation is a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time can I use a leaf blower in Colonie?
Anytime except between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. on residential property. Section 135-5E bans power tools, lawn mowers, leaf blowers and agricultural equipment during that nighttime window regardless of how loud the equipment actually is.
Does Colonie ban gas-powered leaf blowers outright?
No. Unlike some New York suburbs that have banned gas leaf blowers outright or seasonally, Colonie's code only restricts the hours of operation under §135-5E; a gas or electric blower is treated the same, and both are legal outside the 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew.
Is snow-blowing at night allowed in Colonie?
Yes. Section 135-8E exempts snow removal and ice-control equipment, including snow blowers, throwers, sanders and plows, from the noise chapter's restrictions at any hour, provided the equipment has a functioning muffler.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Colonie

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How Colonie compares: Cities with the Strictest Leaf Blower Rules·New York rules heatmap·Compare Colonie to another location·View the New York noise ordinances overview

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