Fairfax County does not ban gas-powered leaf blowers, but their use is restricted to the construction hours window of 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday-Saturday and is prohibited on Sundays and federal holidays. The sound must not exceed 65 dBA at the property line for sustained operation.
Unlike Arlington County and the District of Columbia, which have phased out gas-powered leaf blowers, Fairfax County permits them subject to Chapter 108 noise restrictions. Use is limited to 7:00 AM through 9:00 PM, Monday through Saturday, with no operation permitted on Sundays and federal holidays. The plainly-audible-at-50-feet standard applies during enforcement. Commercial landscaping companies operating in the county must train crews on these hour restrictions; homeowner associations frequently impose stricter limits (often 8 AM start, 7 PM end) through CC&Rs. The Fairfax County Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC) has studied leaf blower noise and emissions, but as of the current ordinance the county has not adopted a gas-powered ban or electric-only mandate. Battery-powered and corded electric blowers are subject to the same hour restrictions but rarely trigger complaints. Landscape companies operating before 7 AM or on Sundays face Class 3 misdemeanor citations with fines up to $500, plus potential business license consequences after repeat violations. Residents can report violations to Fairfax County Police non-emergency or the Department of Code Compliance.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Fairfax County.
See how other cities in Fairfax County handle leaf blower rules.
See how Fairfax's leaf blower rules rules stack up against other locations.
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