Ventura County, CA Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Quiet hours
- 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Measured from
- 50 ft from the property line of the source
- Test
- Audible to the human ear
- Covers
- Backpack blowers, blowers, lawn edgers, mowers
- Applies in
- Unincorporated residential zones only
Summary
In unincorporated Ventura County residential zones, running a leaf blower or other loud yard tool that can be heard 50 feet from the property line between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. violates the county noise code.
No person shall create within any residential zone of the County of Ventura any loud or raucous noise which is audible to the human ear during the hours of 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. of the following day, at a distance of 50 feet from the property line of the noise source... "Loud or raucous noise" means sounds from... the use or operation of any lawn mower, backpack blower, blower, lawn edger, riding tractor or other mechanical or electrical device or hand tool.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51).
Full Breakdown
of the following day at a distance of 50 feet from the property line of the noise source. Two details of that standard are worth unpacking. The measurement point is the noise source's own property line, not the complaining neighbor's window, so the question is whether the sound carries 50 feet beyond the line of the lot where the equipment is running. And the test is audibility to the human ear, not a decibel reading, so no meter is needed to establish a violation. Section 6299-2 then defines loud or raucous noise by listing the equipment it covers: any lawn mower, backpack blower, blower, lawn edger, riding tractor, or other mechanical or electrical device or hand tool.
Backpack blowers are named outright, and the catch-all for other mechanical or electrical devices sweeps in powered yard equipment the list does not mention. window; this section places no limit on daytime leaf-blowing. It also applies only in unincorporated residential zones. The ten incorporated cities enforce their own noise codes.
Violations & Fines
A violation is a misdemeanor or infraction under § 6299-3, punished per Ordinance Code § 13-2 with fines or jail time depending on the citation issued.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this leaf blower rule apply inside Oxnard or Thousand Oaks?
What equipment counts as loud or raucous noise?
Can I use a leaf blower during the day?
How is the noise measured?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ventura County
How Ventura County compares: Cities with the Strictest Leaf Blower Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Ventura County to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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