Highland, CA Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)

Section 8.50.050 of the Highland Municipal Code lists activities that are unlawful outside set hours, and item D covers leaf blowers "such as commonly used by gardeners and other persons for cleaning lawns, yards, driveways, gutters and other property." The section names gasoline and electric-powered blowers together, so a homeowner in the City of Highland with a corded or battery model has the same hours as a landscaper with a gas backpack unit. The window is 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. in the industrial (I) zone and 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. in all other zones, and the text says "on any day," so it carves out no weekend or holiday.

The same list covers domestic power tools in a garage or workshop, privately operated street and parking lot sweepers, electrically operated compressors and fans, and the handling of garbage cans and recycling bins between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Public agencies are treated separately: § 8.50.060 K takes equipment maintenance by the park and recreation department, public work projects and essential public services, including trash collection, outside the chapter. Loud private parties are also sent elsewhere, to Chapter 9.17.

The city manager, the chief of police and their designees administer and enforce the chapter (§ 8.50.070). Section 8.50.090 requires a written notice on an initial violation that states the time by which the condition must be corrected, and no complaint or further action follows if the cause is removed within that period. Section 8.50.130 lets the city manager or a designee use the Chapter 2.56 administrative citation process instead of criminal prosecution or nuisance abatement, and second and subsequent violations can carry a second response service fee under §§ 9.17.030 through 9.17.060. Under § 8.50.140, a city permittee or licensee who violates the chapter more than twice in any six-calendar-month period faces possible modification, suspension or revocation of the permit or license, at the city manager's discretion.