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Fort Smith, AR Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Covered equipment
Lawn equipment, power tools
Peak limit
+20 dB over zone base
Residential day base
60 dB(A)
Residential night base
55 dB(A)

Summary

Fort Smith treats leaf blowers and other lawn equipment as a 'transient sound source' and caps their peak noise at 20 decibels above the zone's standard limit rather than banning specific hours.

Transient sound source means noise, the source of which is lawn equipment, an implement of husbandry, a domestic power tool, or the temporary repairing of a damaged domicile to maintain its habitability... For a transient sound emanating from any land use district, the peak noise level shall not exceed 20 decibels above the limit set in Table 1 above.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).

Full Breakdown

Fort Smith's noise ordinance defines 'transient sound source' to include lawn equipment, implements of husbandry, domestic power tools, and temporary home or vehicle repairs (§ 16-41). Instead of setting fixed leaf-blower hours, § 16-45(d) caps a transient source's peak noise level at 20 decibels above whatever base limit applies to the land-use district under Table 1: for example 60 dB(A) daytime and 55 dB(A) nighttime in residential zones, so a mower or blower there may not exceed roughly 80 dB(A) by day or 75 dB(A) after 11:00 p.m. Measurements use a calibrated Type II sound level meter under § 16-44.

Violations & Fines

Exceeding the transient-source decibel cap is a noise disturbance misdemeanor under § 16-43, punishable per the general penalty in § 1-9.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Fort Smith restrict what hours you can use a leaf blower?
No fixed hours, § 16-45(d) instead caps lawn equipment noise at 20 decibels above the zone's base limit, which is lower at night (11 p.m.–7 a.m.) than during the day.
Is a leaf blower regulated as noise under Fort Smith's code?
Yes, § 16-41 classifies lawn equipment as a 'transient sound source' subject to the peak decibel limits in § 16-45(d).

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Fort Smith

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All Fort Smith rules

How Fort Smith compares: Cities with the Strictest Leaf Blower Rules·Compare Fort Smith to another location·View the Arkansas noise ordinances overview

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