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Catawba County, NC Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)

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

Key Facts

Curfew
11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Covers
Lawn mowers and power-operated domestic tools
Section
Code § 16-69(14)
Daytime limit
None specified by hour or decibel
First offense
Class 3 misdemeanor
Enforcement
Sheriff's Office

Summary

Catawba County bars running lawn mowers or other power-operated domestic tools, including leaf blowers, outdoors between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. under Code Sec. 16-69(14); the county sets no gas-versus-electric distinction and no daytime decibel limit.

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

(14)Operation of lawn mowers or other power-operated domestic tools out-of-doors between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Sec. m. The provision does not name leaf blowers specifically, but its 'other power-operated domestic tools' language reaches any gas or electric outdoor power equipment used around a home, placing leaf blowers in the same overnight curfew as mowers, trimmers and similar yard tools. The rule sits inside Article III's list of acts specifically declared unlawful under the general noise standard in Sec. S. 153A-133 (Sec. 16-66). window, daytime and evening leaf-blower use is not separately capped by hour, decibel level, or equipment type; a daytime complaint would instead have to meet the general Sec.

16-68 standard that the noise be unreasonably loud, raucous or disturbing enough to frighten, endanger or seriously disturb a person of ordinary sensibilities. Sec. has no exception available.

Violations & Fines

Running a leaf blower or other power tool during the restricted hours is, on a first citation issued by a sheriff's deputy under Sec. 16-72, a class 3 misdemeanor under Sec. 16-73(a). A third noise conviction within five years is a class 1 misdemeanor, and each night the violation continues after the operator has been notified counts as a separate offense under Sec. 16-73(c).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a leaf blower at night in Catawba County?
No. Sec. 16-69(14) bars operating lawn mowers or other power-operated domestic tools outdoors between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., and a leaf blower falls within that domestic-tools language even though the code does not name blowers individually.
Does the county limit leaf blower noise during the day?
Not by a specific hour or decibel figure. Sec. 16-69(14) only restricts the 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. window; daytime use would have to violate the general Sec. 16-68 standard, unreasonably loud or disturbing noise, before it becomes a citable offense.
What is the penalty for using power tools too late?
A sheriff's deputy can issue a criminal citation after a complaint under Sec. 16-72. A first violation is a class 3 misdemeanor under Sec. 16-73, rising to a class 1 misdemeanor on a third conviction within five years.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Catawba County

Quiet HoursSome RestrictionsConstruction HoursSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Dog Leash LawsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsBarking DogsSome RestrictionsVehicle NoiseSome RestrictionsAmplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsLight RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Exotic PetsHeavy RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Breed RestrictionsSignificant Restrictions

All Catawba County rules

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

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