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Henrico County, VA Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)

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

Key Facts

Restricted hours
11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Covered work
Lawn care, leaf removal, tree work, landscaping
No decibel limit
Turns on plainly-audible test, not equipment type
Recreational exemption
Golf courses, ball fields exempt
Governing code
Henrico County Code Sec. 10-68(8)
Max fine
$2,500 for a third offense in 10 years

Summary

Henrico County bars lawn care, leaf removal, gardening, tree work and other landscaping noise that is plainly audible in a residential area between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., under Sec. 10-68(8). The rule covers leaf blowers along with mowers, trimmers and chainsaws, but exempts noise from maintaining recreational facilities such as golf courses and ball fields.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Henrico County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

(8) Lawn care activities. Creating any sound or noise plainly audible in residential areas between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in connection with lawn care, leaf removal, gardening, tree maintenance or removal or other landscaping, lawn or timbering activities. The provisions of this subsection do not apply to sound or noise generated by the maintenance of recreational facilities, such as golf courses and ball or playing fields.

Full Breakdown

Sec. when it comes from lawn care, leaf removal, gardening, tree maintenance or removal, or other landscaping, lawn or timbering activities. The provision does not name leaf blowers specifically but covers the noise category they fall under: any equipment used for leaf removal or lawn and landscaping work. window as the county's general residential noise curfew, one hour later in the morning than the separate construction-and-street-cleaning rule in Sec. m. A specific exemption removes recreational-facility upkeep from the rule: noise from maintaining golf courses and ball or playing fields is not a violation even during the curfew window.

There is no decibel limit or equipment restriction written into the section: gas, electric and manual equipment are all treated the same, and the rule turns entirely on whether the resulting sound is plainly audible in a residential area during the restricted hours. Enforcement runs through Sec. 10-67: a neighbor must appear before a magistrate to request a summons, or a police officer must witness the noise directly. Fines run up to $500 for a first conviction, $1,000 for a second within five years, and $2,500 for a third within ten years, with each day of continued noise a separate offense.

Violations & Fines

A first conviction carries a fine up to $500, a second within five years up to $1,000, and a third within ten years up to $2,500. Each day the prohibited lawn-care or leaf-removal noise continues past the curfew is a separate offense. A charge can only proceed after a magistrate summons requested by a complaining neighbor, or direct observation by a police officer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Henrico ban leaf blowers at a specific time of day?
Sec. 10-68(8) bars plainly audible lawn care, leaf removal and landscaping noise in residential areas between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. There is no separate leaf-blower-only rule or decibel limit; any equipment used for that work is covered the same way during the restricted overnight hours.
Is golf course or ball field maintenance noise exempt?
Yes. Sec. 10-68(8) specifically exempts sound or noise generated by maintaining recreational facilities such as golf courses and ball or playing fields, even during the 11:00 p.m.-to-7:00 a.m. window that otherwise covers lawn and landscaping work.
What is the fine for running a leaf blower overnight in Henrico?
A first conviction is punishable by a fine up to $500. It rises to $1,000 for a second conviction within five years and $2,500 for a third within ten years, with each night the noise continues counted as a new offense under Sec. 10-67's penalty scale.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Henrico County

All Henrico County rules

How Henrico County compares: Cities with the Strictest Leaf Blower Rules·Compare Henrico County to another location·View the Virginia noise ordinances overview

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