Santa Clara County, CA Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Dedicated County leaf-blower law
- None - covered by general noise limits
- Applicable County limit (residential day)
- 55 dBA at one/two-family property
- Construction-hours rule
- Does not apply to domestic power tools
- State rule
- CARB SORE - ban on sale of new gas blowers
- State rule type
- Sales restriction (statewide), not a County use ban
- Code
- Division B11, Ch. VIII (Noise)
Summary
Unincorporated Santa Clara County has no separate dedicated leaf-blower ordinance; gas leaf blowers fall under the County Noise Ordinance's exterior limits and 'domestic power tools' provisions. Statewide, California now bans the sale of new gas-powered leaf blowers and lawn equipment under the small off-road engine (SORE) rule.
This bill would require the state board, by July 1, 2022, consistent with federal law, to adopt cost-effective and technologically feasible regulations to prohibit engine exhaust and evaporative emissions from new small off-road engines, as defined by the state board. The bill would require the state board to identify and, to the extent feasible, make available funding for commercial rebates or similar incentive funding as part of any updates to existing applicable funding program guidelines to local air pollution control districts and air quality management districts to implement to support the transition to zero-emission small off-road equipment operations.
Full Breakdown
' Section B11-154's construction-hours restriction expressly does not apply to domestic power tools, which are addressed separately, so a homeowner using a leaf blower is governed mainly by whether the resulting noise exceeds the receiving-property exterior limits (for example, 55 dBA daytime / 45 dBA nighttime at a one- and two-family residence) rather than by a blanket curfew. There is no County code section setting a unique decibel cap solely for leaf blowers in the unincorporated area, so claims of a specific leaf-blower-only limit should not be assumed.
At the state level, California's CARB small off-road engine (SORE) regulation prohibits the sale of NEW gas-powered leaf blowers, lawn mowers and similar equipment, pushing the market toward zero-emission electric models; this is a sales restriction, not a use ban, and it applies statewide rather than being a Santa Clara County ordinance. Residents in unincorporated areas using leaf blowers should keep noise within the County's exterior limits and avoid creating a disturbance across a neighboring property line, especially during nighttime hours.
Violations & Fines
Leaf-blower use that produces noise exceeding the County exterior noise limits at a neighboring property line - or that creates a noise disturbance, particularly during nighttime hours - can be enforced under Division B11, Chapter VIII. Selling new gas-powered units violates California's statewide SORE rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does unincorporated Santa Clara County ban gas leaf blowers?
Are there set hours for leaf blowers in the unincorporated County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Clara County
How Santa Clara County compares: Cities with the Strictest Leaf Blower Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Clara County to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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