Durham has no leaf-blower-specific ordinance. Powered yard equipment is instead governed by the general 60 dB(A) daytime property-line limit, and properly muffled lawn/agricultural equipment used between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. is expressly exempt from the noise code.
The City noise ordinance does not single out leaf blowers by name or set a blower-only time window. Instead, Sec. 26-23(e)(5) exempts sounds from a motor vehicle, lawnmower, or agricultural equipment operated between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. when equipped with standard mufflers and sound-reduction equipment and used under proper conditions. Outside those hours, or if equipment is unmuffled or excessively loud, the general 60 dB(A) daytime / 50 dB(A) nighttime property-line limits and the 'unreasonably loud and disturbing' standard apply. Individual HOAs may impose stricter leaf-blower rules.
Using yard equipment outside the 7 a.m.–9 p.m. exemption or above the dB(A) limits can be cited as an unreasonably loud noise: Class 3 misdemeanor, up to $50 (Sec. 1-9).
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Durham County's leaf blower rules rules stack up against other locations.
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