Hammond, IN Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)

Hammond Code of Ordinances § 97.21(H) declares it a prohibited act to operate, or permit the operation of, "powered model vehicles or power lawnmowers" between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following morning in a manner that causes a noise disturbance. The provision sits in the same prohibited-acts list as horn honking, loudspeakers and overnight loading noise, all enforced under the general noise disturbance prohibition of § 97.20 and administered by the Air Pollution Control Department and Police Department per § 97.40. Because § 97.21's list is expressly non-exclusive, other gas-powered yard equipment such as blowers, edgers or trimmers operated in that same overnight window in a manner causing a noise disturbance can be reached under the general § 97.20 prohibition even though the code names only lawnmowers and model vehicles in division (H).

A resident with a complaint can trigger inspection under § 97.40(B)(5) with consent of the owner or occupant, and a violation notice follows the same 30-day response process set out in § 97.60: the Chief of the Air Pollution Control Department issues the notice, and the recipient has 30 days to submit data disputing it before the Chief affirms or withdraws the citation. Repeat sources, defined as three or more violations within 12 months, can have the offending equipment sealed under § 97.61 after a show-cause hearing before the Chief, with appeal rights to the Air Pollution Control Board.

There is no exemption in the text for landscaping contractors or commercial crews; the 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. window applies to whoever operates the equipment.