Midland, TX Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)

Section 6-6-13, adopted by Ordinance 8128 in 2002, declares any "unreasonably loud, disturbing, raucous, or unnecessary noise that causes distress, discomfort, or injury to persons of ordinary sensibilities" a nuisance, and Section 6-6-13(C) expressly states no minimum decibel level is required to prove a violation. Section 6-6-14 directs the trier of fact to weigh the volume, intensity, background noise, proximity to residential sleeping areas, zoning and density of the surrounding neighborhood, duration, whether the noise is recurrent or constant, and the time of day. Section 6-6-16 lists affirmative defenses to that general prohibition, and subsection (H) covers yard equipment directly: "the sound resulting from the use and operation of a leaf blower, lawnmower, weed eater or edger between the hours of sunrise and sunset" is a defense to prosecution.

Outside that window, before sunrise or after sunset, a leaf blower or mower loses the statutory defense entirely, and a complaint can proceed under the general Section 6-6-13 standard using the Section 6-6-14 factors. Section 6-6-15 separately lists specific acts "deemed loud and raucous," including operating vehicles or devices in a manner that creates loud grating, grinding or jarring noise, which can overlap with gas-powered yard equipment used carelessly even during permitted hours.