Southampton Village, NY Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)

The ban is in § 78-4B(3) of the Southampton Village Code. Subparagraph (a) says that, except as set forth in (b), "the operation of gas-powered leaf blowers is prohibited in the Village of Southampton due to noise, public health and safety concerns." The text carries no horsepower threshold, no commercial-only limit and no seasonal window, so the prohibition applies to a homeowner's own blower as much as to a landscaping crew. The Board of Trustees tied the ban to its finding in § 78-4A that landscaping and leaf blower noise unreasonably annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others. Section 78-4 was added on April 11, 2019 and amended on May 12, 2022 and December 12, 2024.

The single exception, § 78-4B(3)(b), allows gas-powered leaf blowers when responding to an emergency or cleaning up after a major storm, but only during a state of emergency declared by the Mayor of the Village of Southampton. A storm that does not trigger the Mayor's declaration does not qualify.

Chapter 77 adds a second layer for every kind of leaf blower. Section 77-4A(1) defines a leaf blower as all engine- or motor-powered equipment or tools used to collect or move leaves, grass or the like by emitting a stream of high-speed air. Although homeowner's light residential outdoor equipment is otherwise exempt from the § 77-3 noise standards between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., the § 77-3 standards apply to leaf blowers from Memorial Day through Labor Day each year, except for necessary cleanup after a major storm.

Hours apply too. Under § 78-4B(2), paid property maintenance and landscaping work involving machinery or power tools, a list that names leaf blowers, is barred before 8:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m. on weekdays, before 9:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays, and at all times on Sundays and federal and state holidays. Municipal employees can start at 6:00 a.m. for their regular and customary duties.