Fort Collins, CO Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Exempt equipment hours
- 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Exempt equipment dB cap
- Under 85 dB(A) at property line
- Residential noise limit, day
- 55 dB(A), 7am-8pm
- Residential noise limit, night
- 50 dB(A), 8pm-7am
- Variance authority
- Code Compliance Inspector
- Max penalty
- $2,650 fine, up to 180 days jail
Summary
Fort Collins's noise ordinance exempts domestic power tools and lawn and garden equipment, including leaf blowers, from the citywide noise limits only when run between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. and kept under 85 dB(A) at the property line. Run one outside that window or over that level and it falls under the general unreasonable-noise and zoned decibel rules in Chapter 20.
The provisions of this Article shall not apply to: ... Noise from domestic power tools and lawn and garden equipment operated between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., provided that such tools or equipment generate less than eighty-five (85) dB(A) at or within any real property line of a residential property;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 155 | Transitional Land Use Code (for project before May 17, 2024): Supplement 61 | Traffic Code: Supplement 27).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 20's noise article sets maximum sound levels by zoning district under § 20-23, ranging from 55 dB(A) daytime and 50 dB(A) nighttime in residential zones up to 80/75 dB(A) in industrial zones. and stays under 85 dB(A) measured at or within the residential property line. , or loud enough to exceed 85 dB(A) at the line loses the exception and is measured instead against the general unreasonable-noise prohibition in § 17-129 and the zoned limits in § 20-23, which Police Services may enforce using a prima facie determination based on time of day, gathering size, amplification and similar factors.
exception under § 20-25(6), and snow removal equipment is exempt outright under § 20-25(7) if it runs with a working muffler. A property owner who needs to run equipment outside the exempted hours, such as a landscaping crew on a tight schedule, can apply to the Code Compliance Inspector for a variance of up to one year under § 20-27, which requires proof the noise will not endanger public health and that compliance would impose an unreasonable hardship.
Violations & Fines
Violating the noise article, including running exempted equipment like leaf blowers outside the 7 a.m.-8 p.m./85 dB(A) window, is an unclassified misdemeanor under § 20-29, carrying a fine and surcharge up to $2,650 and up to 180 days in jail under the Chapter 1 general penalty table, plus a summons issued by any authorized enforcement officer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a leaf blower early in the morning in Fort Collins?
What decibel limit applies to leaf blowers in Fort Collins?
What happens if my neighbor runs a leaf blower at night?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Collins
How Fort Collins compares: Cities with the Strictest Leaf Blower Rules·Compare Fort Collins to another location·View the Colorado noise ordinances overview
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