Residents have had nine months’ warning, and starting Monday (May 3), they will face penalties — including fines — for violating new provisions of the West University noise ordinance expanding quiet hours in residential neighborhoods and regulating leaf blowers.
A constant issue before West U councilors for years, noise at disruptive times and especially from leaf blowers was studied by the current City Council, which voted to amend the city’s ordinance last July to reduce noise pollution.
Now any leaf blower being used in West U will have to display manufacturer’s certification — or its user will have to produce documentation — that it produces 70 decibels or less at a distance of 50 feet.
The city has cards in English and Spanish that can be downloaded here to provide to yard crews to make sure they understand the new regulations.
The same website also outlines residential quiet hours and answers other questions regarding the noise ordinance.
Residential quiet hours, when the noise restrictions apply, will run from 7 p.m.-7 a.m. Mondays through Fridays; 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. Saturdays; and 5 p.m. to noon on Sundays and holidays — New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, Independence Day, and any city holiday on which there is no curbside trash collection.
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