With all the concern expressed by readers about the noise made by leaf blowers, how clever of one of you to to find out which city ordinance covers these noisy devices and the hours when they can and cannot operate.
The ordinance is in the city’s Municipal Code, under Title 4 (Public Welfare, Morals and Conduct), Chapter 6 (Nuisances), Article 2.
Under “Prohibited Noises Enumerated,” and Maintenance Equipment it states:
“The use and operation of any noise-creating commercial or residential landscaping or home maintenance equipment or tools including, but not limited to, hammers, blowers, trimmers, mowers, chainsaws, power fans or any engine, the operation of which causes noise due to the explosion of operating gases or fluids, other than between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays. (§1, Ord. 1753, eff. November 8, 1990).”
In plain English, you can only operate leaf blowers between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays and between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
But as you can see, the ordinance went into effect back in 1990. So, maybe it’s time for the city to revisit that issue?
Crazy in Suburbia 
Yes! Now you can all rat out your neighbors anonymously instead of having a civil conversation with them.
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Once Obama and the Goracle commit the U.S. to stringent carbon emmissions reductions, leaf blowers will be a thing of the past, along with many other conveniences that we enjoy.
Get ready people, hope and change is coming!
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You know you’ve completely lost it when you feel the need to turn everything (even a blog post about leaf blowers) into a diatribe against President Obama.
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On the contrary, mon ami, it improves the outlook greatly when one can have a laugh at the situation. You should try it sometime.
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Masterlock, at least if the civil conversation doesn't pan out well… we can all bust out some code numbers to our neighbors.
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“…the operation of which causes noise due to the explosion of operating gases or fluids…”
So this only refers to gas-powered devices? Electric blowers should be OK?
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8:36,
Perhaps you've never heard of electricity?
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Check out the video on the new homw page for Quiet Orinda – http://www.quietorinda.com and see how much both electric and gas blowers pollute (and are almost equally noisy)!
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9:55 am,
You do realize that electricity has to be generated, don't you?
The generation of electricity is the single largest source of CO2 emissions in the United States. That means that when CO2 emissions are mandated to be reduced, generation of electricity will be a prime target.
Too bad we haven't spent the last several decades investing in nuclear energy.
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7 days a week without any respite- you call this a noise ordinance?
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Good blogging with a lot of great post.. really a nice post
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I was at Arco and saw some guy with a “Mow n' Blow” blowing about 3 leaves around only to blow them back to where they were. I was at Shell the next day and saw some guy with a broom and dust pan.
Take that into consideration…
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Glad I raked my leaves from 8am to 9am this weekend, then used my blower as did my 2 other neighbors at 901.
2 cycle technology has not changed since 1990. Its still the same. If anything, they are more quiet than they were 20 years ago. The only thing that has changed is there are more condos and apartment complexes, which where most of the “mega” blowers operate at probably 2x a week if not 3 blowing 3-4 leaves around.
If you cant talk to your neighbors, then you shouldnt live in a neighborhood.
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larry13767 http://www.nejcpass.com/pass/tag/simplydemi-com/
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has there been any progress? there is leaf blowing every day in my neighborhood starting at 8am, and even 6pm in the afternoon when folks are eating dinner to be eating dinner. i would be willing to go to town hall with you. EVERYDAY. this is nuts.
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