Stafford Township, NJ Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)

The Stafford Township Code does not single out leaf blowers by name; the chapter's only use of the word blower is for motorized snowblowers. Leaf blowers fall under the hours rule for landscaping and yard maintenance equipment in § 142-6C, which applies notwithstanding the decibel tables in Tables I and II.

For residents, § 142-6C(1) covers noncommercial or nonindustrial power tools and landscaping and yard maintenance equipment. They cannot be operated between 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. unless the activity can meet the applicable limits in Tables I and II, which for a residential receiver outdoors are 65 dB from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and 50 dB from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. All motorized equipment used in these activities must be operated with a muffler. At all other times, the Table I and II limits do not apply to this equipment, so a homeowner running a blower between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. is not measured against the decibel tables.

For landscapers and other professionals, § 142-6C(2) is stricter. Commercial or industrial power tools and landscaping and yard maintenance equipment, excluding emergency work, cannot be operated on a residential property, or within 250 feet of a residential property line when operated on commercial or industrial property, between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekdays, or between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. on weekends or federal holidays, unless the work meets Tables I and II. Equipment used on commercial or industrial property must also meet those limits between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., and a muffler is required. Under § 142-2, a weekday begins Monday at 7:00 a.m. and ends the following Friday at 6:00 p.m. Emergency work includes removing fallen trees on public rights-of-way. Motorized snowblowers and snow throwers must also run with a muffler (§ 142-6C(4)).