The whir of lawnmowers, leaf blowers, and other outdoor power equipment is part of the soundtrack of summer, right up there with the shhh-tik-tik-tik of sprinklers and the jingle of the ice cream truck.
But while small engine noise is to be expected, it shouldn’t be heard at all hours of the day—especially the early morning when many of us are still snoozing. That begs the question, what is the earliest you should bust out your outdoor power equipment?
Based on the banter we’re hearing on Reddit, there’s plenty of debate on the topic. The comments range from circumspect (“don’t start yard work earlier than the time when you personally would feel unashamed to consume an alcoholic beverage”) to vaguely threatening (“anytime before 10 a.m. is getting rocks thrown in your yard.”)
For me personally, this Redditor said it best: “Legally, 8 a.m. If you’re a good neighbor, 9 a.m. If you’re a really good neighbor, 10 a.m.”
But you actually don’t have to guess. Most municipalities have noise ordinances with specific guidelines. Where I live in New York City, the rule is 8 a.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. on weekends. Many suburbs push the start time to 10 a.m. on Sunday. That’s a little more civilized, though not for everyone. One of my Good Housekeeping colleagues who lives in New Jersey had a neighbor call the police on her once—and she was mowing well after 10 a.m. on the weekend!
Some Lawn Gear Is Quieter Than Others
I wouldn’t be doing my job here if I didn’t lend a little perspective from the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement and Outdoor Lab. The main point to stress is that some outdoor power equipment is quieter than others, especially when you get into the battery-powered category. In fact, gas-powered lawn equipment has been banned or limited in some states, including California and Colorado. The movement is mostly aimed at curbing emissions, but noise is a factor, too.
In our lawn mower tests, for example, some battery-powered models have noise ratings as low as 75 decibels, which is on par with a typical vacuum cleaner (robotic lawn mowers can get as low as 60 decibels, the equivalent of normal conversation). Compare with a traditional gas mower, where decibels can top 100 decibels, which is as noisy as a motorcycle. It’s the same story with battery-powered leaf blowers, which is why our experts tend to recommend them over gas blowers, unless you have a huge yard with lots of leafy trees.
That’s not to say you can go outside at the crack of dawn on a Sunday with your battery-powered lawn gear. But these devices are less likely to disturb the neighbors at any hour of the day, plus you don’t have to deal with filling the gas tank or regular oil changes.
Having written thousands of product reviews and how-to articles on all aspects of home ownership, from routine maintenance to major renovations, Dan (he/him) brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role as the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. A one-time roofer and a serial remodeler, Dan can often be found keeping house at his restored Brooklyn brownstone, where he lives with his wife and kids.
