San Clemente, CA Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Gas blowers
- Banned citywide, § 8.50.050
- Effective date
- November 4, 2022
- Electric sound limit
- 65 dB(A) at 50 feet
- Weekday hours
- 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Weekend/holiday hours
- 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Commercial ID
- Business name/license number on unit
Summary
Gas-powered leaf blowers are banned citywide in San Clemente under Municipal Code Section 8.50.050, effective November 4, 2022. Electric leaf blowers are allowed only if rated at 65 dB(A) or quieter at 50 feet, used with the manufacturer's muffler and blower tube, and operated 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. weekdays or 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. weekends and holidays.
The use of gas leaf blowers is prohibited [except when operated by City contractors for the term of contracts existing on September 7, 2021]. ... A.Sound Rating Certification. Leaf blower models shall be used that are category 1 rated by American National Standards Institute ("ANSI") or an outside laboratory (e.g., Underwriters Labatory) that confirm manufacturers of leaf blower models produce a maximum sound rating of 65 dB(A) measured 50 feet from the noise source (ANSI standard B175.2).B.Operating Hours. Leaf blowers may be operated Monday through Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., and Saturday, Sunday, and City-recognized holidays between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Outside these time periods, leaf blowers must comply with noise restrictions in Municipal Code Chapter 8.48, Noise Control.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Traffic: Supplement 30 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 66 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
050 states the use of gas leaf blowers is prohibited, with a narrow carve-out for City contractors finishing out contracts that existed on September 7, 2021. 060. 2, and they must be run with the manufacturer's muffler and full-length blower tube attached. m. 48. Users may not blow dirt, leaves, clippings, green waste, or other debris onto a neighboring property or into a street, sidewalk, gutter, or storm drain. 070: they must affix or write their business name, address, phone number, and City-issued business license number on every electric leaf blower used in the City, which lets Code Enforcement trace a violation back to a specific landscaping company rather than an anonymous crew.
Violations & Fines
A violation of Chapter 8.50, whether operating a banned gas blower or running an electric blower outside the permitted hours or sound rating, is enforced under the City's general penalty in Section 1.16.010: a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both, unless charged as an infraction. The City may instead issue an administrative citation under Chapter 1.20 starting at $100 and rising to $200 and $500 for repeats within a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are gas leaf blowers legal in San Clemente?
What are the rules for electric leaf blowers?
Do landscapers have to mark their leaf blowers?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Clemente
How San Clemente compares: Cities with the Strictest Leaf Blower Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare San Clemente to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Leaf Blower Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Orange County handle leaf blower rules.