While tidy yards and gardens may be pleasant, the noise from your leaf blower can end up disturbing those around you. Let’s all be considerate of our neighbours! Learn about the rules for using your leaf blower and avoid using it too early, before 8 a.m. or too late, after 7 p.m. on weekdays. Power devices are allowed from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays.
You can also keep your yard clean without using your leaf blower. If you do have to use a leaf blower, consider using green technologies and taking steps to reduce the noise and other impacts from your device.
There are a number of alternatives to dealing with fallen leaves that will help you avoid or reduce the use of your leaf blower. You can:
Many native species need leaves, plant stalks, or dead branches for hibernation. By removing leaves, we could be removing important wintering habitats for native wildlife. Check out the City’s Pollinator Protection Strategy, which aims to enhance and protect habitat in natural and urbanized areas, and additional tips for creating a pollinator-friendly garden.
If you do need to use a leaf blower, consider switching to greener technologies to reduce the impacts of your leaf blower usage.
If you do have to use a leaf blower, there are steps you can take to reduce the impacts on your neighbours:
You can reduce noise from your leaf blower by adopting the following practices:
Before using a leaf blower, please familiarize yourself with the rules for power device use so that your device does not disturb your neighbours. Power devices include equipment used in the maintenance of lawns, including leaf blowers, lawnmowers, grass trimmers, chainsaws, or any other similar equipment.
Avoid using your leaf blower too early or too late in the day and let your neighbours sleep in on weekends and holidays. Use your power devices from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays. Power devices are allowed from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays. Learn more about the rules for power devices in the Noise Bylaw.
Help keep our sidewalks clean by not blowing leaves and lawn clipping onto sidewalks and roads. Learn more about the regulations in the Use of Streets and Sidewalk Bylaw.
If you have concerns about leaf blower noise and leaves and debris being blown onto roads and sidewalks, consider speaking with those responsible to give them an opportunity to correct the issue. If this approach does not work, call 311 or submit a complaint online.