Mariposa County, CA Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)

Mariposa County has not adopted any ordinance restricting leaf blowers or gas-powered yard equipment, and because the county has no general noise ordinance, there are no fixed hours or decibel thresholds for such equipment anywhere in the unincorporated county. The General Plan Noise Element (Chapter 15) describes the county's rural character and notes that sounds like chainsaws and tractors 'are part of the rural lifestyle' and, while they 'may momentarily detract from the quiet aspects of the rural lifestyle, they are not seen as being significant.' Routine daytime leaf-blower use in communities such as Mariposa, Catheys Valley or Greeley Hill is therefore very unlikely to draw enforcement. The only avenue for relief is general state law: California Penal Code Section 415 makes it a crime to maliciously and willfully disturb another person by loud and unreasonable noise, which could reach early-morning or repeated late-night equipment use that crosses into a deliberate disturbance. Separately, California has phased out the sale of certain new gas-powered small off-road engines (which include many leaf blowers) on emissions grounds at the state level, but that is a sales and air-quality program and not a local noise-use restriction. Homeowners should also check any applicable HOA or subdivision rules, which can be stricter than county law.