Leaf Blowers Banned At These Times In Western New York

Since the first blast of cold air moved in to Buffalo and Western New York, the leaves have been changing colors and the fall has set in. While we watch football, drink pumpkin spice and pick the perfect pumpkin, the work is getting ready to begin.

There has been a long standing debate here in the Western New York region about leaves. Mow them up and mulch them or just let them be until spring. But for some, including myself, we prefer to have a leaf free lawn and landscape. The go to tool is often a leaf blower. Whether it is gas powered or electric or battery, you can't beat a freshly leaf blown lawn.

But before you grab the leaf blower and make that pile for the kids, there are some things to take in to consideration. First and foremost is the noise ordinance law in your town.

If we are referring to The City of Buffalo, there is a specific time that you can't operate your lawn and garden equipment and it does mean leaf-blowers.

The use and operation of any lawn maintenance device, including mowers, edgers, trimmers and power-driven hedge shears, between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. that causes sound that annoys or disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivities in a residential real property zone. This provision does not apply to the operation such equipment on golf courses.

Each town has their own law pertaining to noise ordinances and how early or late you can operate machines or do construction.