Monterey, CA Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Fuel-powered ban start
- January 1, 2021
- Where banned
- R-1, R-2, R-3, R-E residential lots
- Allowed hours (any blower)
- 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Covers
- Homeowners, tenants, landscaping services
- Default penalty
- Misdemeanor under § 1-1.06
Summary
Monterey City Code § 22-18.1 has banned fuel-powered leaf blowers on any residential lot since January 1, 2021, and restricts every leaf blower, electric or gas, to the hours between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. citywide, covering homeowners as well as landscaping companies and their crews.
Sec. 22-18.1. Leaf blowers. a. Definitions. 1.“Leaf blower” means any portable power equipment designed or operated to produce a current of air powered by fuel, electricity, or other means to push, propel, or blow dust, dirt, sand, leaves, grass clippings, trimmings, shrubs, or other debris. 2.“Residential lot” means any lot zoned R-1 (single-family), R-2 (residential low-density multifamily dwelling), R-3 (residential medium-density multifamily dwelling), or R-E (residential estate). ... b. Prohibited Use.After January 1, 2021, no person shall use, allow, or authorize: 1.Any fuel powered leaf blower use within any residential lot. 2.Any leaf blower use before 8:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 3721, passed July 7, 2026).
Full Breakdown
1 defines a 'leaf blower' broadly as any portable power equipment designed or operated to produce a current of air, whether powered by fuel, electricity, or other means, to push, propel or blow dust, dirt, sand, leaves, grass clippings, trimmings, shrubs, or other debris. 'Residential lot' means any lot zoned R-1 single-family, R-2 residential low-density multifamily, R-3 residential medium-density multifamily, or R-E residential estate, so the fuel-powered ban tracks the city's residential zoning districts rather than parcel size or use. 01. , which covers electric and battery-powered units on residential lots as well as any leaf blower used in commercial or other non-residential zones. m.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 22 sets no standalone fine for § 22-18.1, so a violation defaults to Monterey City Code § 1-1.06: a misdemeanor carrying up to a $1,000 fine or six months in county jail, or, if the City Attorney charges it as an infraction, fines of $100, $200 and $500 for a first, second and third violation within a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use an electric leaf blower in my yard on Sunday morning at 7 a.m.?
Is my landscaper allowed to use a gas blower at my house?
Does the ban apply to my commercial property?
What counts as a leaf blower under this rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Monterey
How Monterey compares: Cities with the Strictest Leaf Blower Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Monterey to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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Leaf Blower Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Monterey County handle leaf blower rules.