Unincorporated Boulder County exempts leaf blowers, lawnmowers, snowblowers, and other hand or power tools of 5 horsepower or less from noise limits when used between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Outside those hours, general noise limits apply.
Ordinance No. 92-28, Section 1.01.060(L) exempts "the sound made by a lawnmower, snowblower, or other hand or power tool of no more than five horsepower, between the hours of 7 a.m and 10 p.m." A gas or electric leaf blower under 5 hp is covered, so ordinary yard work in that daytime window is allowed even if loud. Used before 7 a.m. or after 10 p.m., a leaf blower falls back under the 55/50 dB(A) residential caps. The county has no separate ban on gas leaf blowers; some Front Range cities are phasing them out, so check your city if incorporated.
Use outside the 7 a.m.-10 p.m. window that exceeds residential dB limits is a Class 2 Petty Offense: $30 per violation up to $300 for repeats within a year.
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See how Boulder County's leaf blower rules rules stack up against other locations.
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