Forsyth County and Winston-Salem set no leaf-blower-specific decibel or model ban. Winston-Salem Code Sec. 46-5 does make it unlawful to run lawn mowers and other gasoline-powered domestic tools outdoors near residences between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.; leaf blowers fall in that category.
No Forsyth County or Winston-Salem ordinance restricts leaf blowers by type, decibel rating or specific hours the way some cities do. The governing limit is Winston-Salem Code Sec. 46-5(a)(3), which bars operating lawn mowers and other gasoline-powered domestic tools out-of-doors between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. in any residentially zoned area or within 300 feet of a residence. A gas leaf blower is such a domestic tool. Outside those hours, blower use is judged under the general reasonable-person disturbance standard of county Sec. 15-1. Daytime routine yard maintenance is generally allowed.
Class 3 misdemeanor under G.S. 14-4, fine up to $500 for after-hours operation under Sec. 46-5.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Forsyth County's leaf blower rules rules stack up against other locations.
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