San Bernardino County, CA Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)

Research of the San Bernardino County Code and Development Code found no county ordinance that bans leaf blowers or sets leaf-blower-specific hours or decibel limits in unincorporated areas (unlike some California cities). Leaf-blower noise is therefore regulated only through the County's general noise provisions. Under Development Code Section 83.01.080, a stationary noise source affecting a residence may not exceed 55 dB(A) Leq from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. or 45 dB(A) Leq from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. (Table 5), with short-duration allowances above those levels. County Code Section 24.0705 separately makes it unlawful to create noise that is disturbing, excessive, or offensive to a reasonable person, which can apply to early-morning or prolonged blower use. Separately, California state law (AB 1346 and the California Air Resources Board's Small Off-Road Engine regulation) prohibits the sale of new gas-powered leaf blowers and other small off-road engines in California, effective for the 2024 model year. That state rule restricts the sale of new equipment statewide; it is not a County ordinance and does not by itself ban using equipment you already own.