Stanislaus County, CA Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)

Stanislaus County takes a permissive approach to ordinary yard equipment in its unincorporated communities. Section 10.46.080(K) of the County Code's Noise Control Ordinance (Chapter 10.46) lists "Residential Maintenance Activity" among the exemptions, stating that noise associated with the maintenance of residential property - including, but not limited to, the operation of lawnmowers, leaf blowers, etc. - is exempt from the chapter, provided such activity occurs between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. There is no decibel cap, gas-versus-electric restriction, or seasonal limit imposed specifically on leaf blowers; the only meaningful constraint is the time window. Outside the 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. period the exemption no longer applies, so early-morning or late-night leaf-blowing could fall back under the ordinance's general standards (and the related power-tools provision in Section 10.46.060(B), which bars power tools from being audible inside a neighbor's dwelling between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.). The Sheriff's Department enforces the chapter (Section 10.46.100). Residents in incorporated cities like Modesto or Turlock should check those cities' own codes, which can be stricter.