Stratford, CT Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)

Section 142-5E(2) of the Stratford Code exempts noise from domestic power equipment, such as power saws, sanders, grinders, lawn and garden tools or similar devices, from the chapter when operated during daytime hours. Section 142-3 defines domestic power equipment as power saws, drills, grinders, lawn and garden tools and other domestic power equipment intended for use in residential areas by a homeowner. The code does not mention leaf blowers by name and prints no separate limit on gas-powered units, so a blower is judged as a lawn and garden tool under this exemption.

The hours come from the definition of day-time hours in Section 142-3. Standard time runs 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday morning through Friday evening, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday and 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday. During daylight savings time the weekday window ends at 9:00 p.m. and the Sunday window ends at 9:00 p.m. The Saturday and Sunday hours also apply on the day before and the day of federal and state holidays. Nighttime hours, in the same section, begin at 8:00 p.m. on weeknights (9:00 p.m. during daylight savings time) and run to 8:00 a.m., with weekend nights running 10:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.

Outside daytime hours the exemption falls away. The emitter-zone and receptor-zone limits in Section 142-5B then apply at the property line, and Section 142-6A makes it unlawful to make or continue any loud, unnecessary or unusual noise that annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others. The Director of Health inspects and measures under Section 142-9, and Section 142-11 lets a resident or business apply to the Department of Health for a variance, decided within 15 days.