Riverside County, CA Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Exempt hours
- 7 a.m.-8 p.m. daily
- Night restriction
- Not audible indoors 10 p.m.-8 a.m.
- Daytime/evening limit
- Not audible beyond 100 feet
- Enforced by
- Sheriff and code enforcement
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county only
Summary
Riverside County exempts leaf blowers and other property-maintenance equipment from its noise ordinance only between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.; outside that window the county's general noise and power-tool hour limits kick in.
Property maintenance, including, but not limited to, the operation of lawnmowers, leaf blowers, etc., provided such maintenance occurs between the hours of seven a.m. and eight p.m.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 84 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Riverside County Code § 9.52.020(J) exempts lawnmowers, leaf blowers and similar property-maintenance equipment from the county noise ordinance only when used between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Run one outside that window in the unincorporated county and it loses the exemption: § 9.52.060(B) then bars operating power tools or equipment audible inside an inhabited dwelling between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., and bars audibility beyond 100 feet at any other hour. The rule applies only in unincorporated Riverside County. Riverside, Temecula, Palm Desert, Moreno Valley and the county's other incorporated cities each enforce their own separate municipal noise codes.
Violations & Fines
First violation in a 180-day period: minimum $500 fine (infraction). Second violation: minimum $750. Third or later violation: minimum $1,000 fine or up to six months in county jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run a leaf blower before 7 a.m. in unincorporated Riverside County?
Does this county rule apply inside the City of Riverside?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Riverside County
How Riverside County compares: Cities with the Strictest Leaf Blower Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Riverside County to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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