Concord, CA Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Weekday Hours
- 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM
- Saturday Hours
- 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Sunday/Holiday Hours
- 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Gas Engine Ban
- AB 1346 (new SORE sales banned Jan 1, 2024)
- Enforcement
- Code Enforcement
Summary
Lawn and garden equipment in Concord may be operated Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, Saturdays from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Sundays from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Professional landscapers and homeowners must comply, and all equipment must meet noise ordinance decibel limits at the property line.
Small off-road engines (SORE), which are used primarily in lawn and garden equipment, emit high levels of air pollutants, including oxides of nitrogen (NOx), reactive organic gases (ROG), and particulate matter (PM). NOx and ROG together contribute to formation of ozone, a criteria pollutant with a national ambient air quality standard set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and a California ambient air quality standard and that has adverse impacts on health. Currently, California exceeds U.S. EPA and state standards for ozone in many areas, including the South Coast Air Basin, the San Francisco Bay area, and the County of Sacramento.
Full Breakdown
Concord regulates powered lawn and garden equipment under the general noise ordinance (Chapter 82, Article V) and through the city's construction-hour parallels. Allowable operation is typically 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM weekdays, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Saturdays, and 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Sundays and holidays. Equipment covered includes lawn mowers, edgers, trimmers, hedge clippers, and rototillers. Both residential homeowners and commercial landscaping crews must comply; crews working for HOAs or commercial properties are commonly cited when running equipment before the allowed start time. Under California AB 1346, sale of new gas-powered small off-road engines (SORE) was banned effective January 1, 2024, pushing the market toward electric equipment. Electric lawn equipment still must comply with operating hours but generally produces less noise. Concord Code Enforcement handles violations through administrative citations. HOAs may impose additional contractual restrictions on equipment hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can landscapers start work?
Are electric mowers exempt from hour rules?
Can I still use my old gas mower?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Concord
How Concord compares: Cities with the Strictest Leaf Blower Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Concord to another location·View the California 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 Contra Costa County handle leaf blower rules.