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Passaic, NJ Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Weekday hours
8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
Weekend/holiday hours
9:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
Muffler required
Yes, to qualify for the exemption
Decibel cap
Under 85 db at property line
Covers
Domestic power tools, mowers, farm equipment
Outside these hours
General Table I limits apply

Summary

Leaf blowers, lawn mowers and other domestic power tools may run in Passaic only from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekends and legal holidays, and only with a muffler producing less than 85 db at the property line, under Code of the City of Passaic § 193-12B(1).

(1) Noise from domestic power tools, lawn mowers and agricultural equipment when operated with a muffler between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekends and legal holidays, provided that they produce less than 85 db's at or within any real property line of a residential property.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4978046; v41 updated 2026-07-01; through 07-01-2026).

Full Breakdown

on weekends and legal holidays, and only if it produces less than 85 db at or within any real property line of a residential property. on a Saturday or Sunday, without a muffler, or loud enough to exceed 85 db at the property line, and the exemption no longer applies, the equipment falls back under the general Table I ceilings in § 193-12A (as low as 40-50 db at night for residential-to-residential noise) and the general noise-disturbance prohibition in § 193-13A. Snowblowers and snow throwers get a comparable, separately worded muffler-only exemption in § 193-12B(4), without the same clock restriction.

Violations & Fines

Under § 193-16C, running lawn or yard equipment outside the exempt hours or conditions exposes the operator to a penalty of up to $1,000 per offense, with a minimum $25 up to $1,000 for a willful violation, and each day of a continuing violation counts as a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time can I use a leaf blower in Passaic?
Section 193-12B(1) exempts domestic power tools, including leaf blowers, from the city's general noise limits only between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on weekends and legal holidays.
Is there a decibel limit for leaf blowers in Passaic?
Yes. Even during the allowed hours, § 193-12B(1) requires the equipment to be run with a muffler and to produce less than 85 db at or within any residential property line, or the exemption from the general noise limits does not apply.
Can I mow my lawn early on a Sunday in Passaic?
Not before 9:00 a.m. Section 193-12B(1) sets a later start time, 9:00 a.m., for weekends and legal holidays than the 8:00 a.m. weekday start for lawn mowers and other domestic power tools.

Sources & Official References

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Leaf Blower Rules in Nearby Cities

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