Montgomery County, MD Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Sale ban effective
- July 1, 2024
- Use ban effective
- July 1, 2025
- Sound cap (other blowers)
- 70 dBA at 50 feet
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Environmental Protection
- Exemption
- Zoned agricultural producers
Summary
Montgomery County bans the sale and use of combustion engine-powered handheld, backpack, and walk-behind leaf blowers and vacuums, following a phased 2023 law that took full effect in July 2025.
(e) Sale of combustion leaf removal equipment – prohibited. A person must not sell or offer for sale a combustion engine-powered handheld, backpack, or walk-behind leaf blower or leaf vacuum. (f) Use of combustion leaf removal equipment – prohibited. A person must not use a combustion engine-powered handheld, backpack, or walk-behind leaf blower or leaf vacuum.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-90: Montgomery County Code contains legislation effective through May 7, 2026 | Zoning Updated Effective: April 13, 2026 | COMCOR Regulations effective as of July 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
County Code § 31B-9 bans selling combustion-powered handheld, backpack, and walk-behind leaf blowers and vacuums since July 1, 2024, and bans using them since July 1, 2025. Any leaf blower not covered by the combustion ban must still stay under a 70 dBA sound-level cap at 50 feet. The Department of Environmental Protection enforces sales violations, while use violations are cited only after a witness complaint is filed within 7 days of the incident. Agricultural producers on agriculturally assessed land zoned for farming under Zoning Ordinance § 3.2.6 are exempt from Section 31B-9 entirely.
Violations & Fines
Violating the sale or use ban is a Class A civil offense, up to $500 for a first offense and $750 for repeat offenses under County Code § 1-19, with each day a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still use my old gas leaf blower in Montgomery County?
Are electric leaf blowers still subject to a noise limit?
Is anyone exempt from the leaf blower ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Montgomery County
How Montgomery County compares: Cities with the Strictest Leaf Blower Rules·Compare Montgomery County to another location·View the Maryland noise ordinances overview
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