Stanislaus County, CA Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Exempt hours
- 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Governing section
- Stanislaus County Code § 10.46.080(K)
- Covers
- Lawnmowers, leaf blowers, similar maintenance equipment
- Decibel cap on leaf blowers
- None specified locally
- Applies in
- Unincorporated Stanislaus County only
Summary
Stanislaus County exempts residential maintenance noise, lawnmowers, leaf blowers, and similar equipment, from its noise ordinance, but only between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Outside that window, the general exterior noise level standards apply.
Residential Maintenance Activity. Noise associated with the maintenance of residential property, including, but not limited to, the operation of lawnmowers, leaf blowers, etc., provided such activity occurs between the hours of seven a.m. and ten p.m.
Full Breakdown
050 (Table A) that set maximum A-weighted sound levels by noise zone, 45 dB for noise-sensitive zones, 50 dB daytime/45 dB nighttime for residential zones, and the cumulative duration allowance standards in Table B. 080(K). 080, including emergency alerts (A), permitted parades and special events (C), religious worship sounds (E), and aircraft (F), all adopted under the same 2010 ordinance, Ord. CS 1070, that recodified the whole noise chapter. is not protected by the maintenance exemption and could be measured against the applicable Table A noise-zone standard for their property, with enforcement handled the same way as any other unpermitted noise complaint under the chapter.
Violations & Fines
Running leaf blowers, lawnmowers, or similar residential maintenance equipment outside the 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. exemption window in § 10.46.080(K) removes the noise from exempt status, exposing the source to enforcement under the general exterior noise level standards of § 10.46.050 and the chapter's public-nuisance declaration in § 10.46.020; each day of a continuing violation can be treated as a separate offense under the chapter's penalty provisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time can I use a leaf blower in unincorporated Stanislaus County?
Does Stanislaus County ban gas-powered leaf blowers?
What happens if a leaf blower runs before 7 a.m.?
Does this rule apply inside Modesto or Turlock city limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stanislaus County
How Stanislaus County compares: Cities with the Strictest Leaf Blower Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Stanislaus County to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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