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Equal-application hours-of-operation and decibel-cap ordinance, not a fuel-source ban. Ordinance 2005-06-15/O-4 amends Chapter 11, Article III (Noise Control) to restrict leaf blowers and other motorized landscape equipment: permitted 8am–7pm weekdays, 9am–5pm weekends in residential zones, with a 65 dB(A) cap at the property line. Applies equally to gas and electric equipment.
Enacted: 2005-09-01 Effective: 2005-09-01
Adopted by Town Council June 15, 2005; effective September 1, 2005. The sole in-force municipal GLB-related ordinance in North Carolina. Chapel Hill's town attorney concluded at every post-2021 review (2021, 2023) that the town lacks statutory authority to impose a fuel-source ban under NCGS 160A-4 and the Lanvale Properties v. Cabarrus County (2012) plain-meaning doctrine. As a substitute: May 10, 2023 Town Council unanimously approved using ARPA funds to convert all town landscape equipment to electric. Southern Village HOA passed a private covenant resolution in May 2023, endorsed by then-Mayor Pam Hemminger. A 2021 resident petition (Mary Cummings, 125 signatures) documented indoor noise readings exceeding 80 dB.
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Timeline
- 2023-05-10 Effective date reached — Phase: Town Council unanimously approved ARPA-funded conversion of all town landscape equipment to electric
- 2021-05 Bill introduced — Resident Mary Cummings presented a 125-signature petition to Town Council
- 2005-09-01 Effective date reached — Ordinance took effect
- 2005-06-15 Adopted — Town Council adopted Ordinance 2005-06-15/O-4 amending Chapter 11 (Noise Control)
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