# What's the earliest acceptable time of day to use outdoor power tools? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 22, 2006, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-earliest-acceptable-time-of-day-to-use-outdoor-power-tools/361772 "2006-06-22T21:25:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-earliest-acceptable-time-of-day-to-use-outdoor-power-tools/361772/1 "2006-06-22T21:25:07Z")
I’ve been having an ongoing debate with the Spouse (one of two debates–I’ll post the other one in a separate thread) about what’s the earliest time, usually on weekends, that’s acceptable to use powered items like weedwhackers, lawnmowers, hedge trimmers, etc–basically anything that has the potential to disturb the neighbors. I claim that 10 a.m. is the earliest considerate time, and that’s what I’ve heard all my life. He says I’m ‘making it up,’ and has been known to go out as early as 8:30 (though I usually can dissuade him from doing so). He’s not doing it to be inconsiderate–he truly doesn’t think it’s too early. What do you guys think? ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-earliest-acceptable-time-of-day-to-use-outdoor-power-tools/361772/2 "2006-06-22T21:41:40Z")
On weekdays, I’d say after 8. On weekends, I’d say 10. Some of it depends on how close you are to your neighbors, and how loud the offending tools are. Also, whether the sound is piercing or steady. A lawnmower at 9 on a Saturday probably wouldn’t tick me off, but a saw or a loud hammer would. ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-earliest-acceptable-time-of-day-to-use-outdoor-power-tools/361772/3 "2006-06-22T21:48:28Z")
Depends on your neighbors ---- on the Sunday morning following their Saturday night bash, 6:00 should do it. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-earliest-acceptable-time-of-day-to-use-outdoor-power-tools/361772/4 "2006-06-22T21:52:47Z")
We only have one neighbor and he’s far enough away that it’s not an issue. I’ve been known to mow at 7:00 and as late as Midnight. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-earliest-acceptable-time-of-day-to-use-outdoor-power-tools/361772/5 "2006-06-22T21:54:59Z")
Our neighbors are very close (there’s only about 10 feet of space separating our house from the neighbors’ on either side, and about 30 feet separating our back wall from the neighbors behind us. They’re all very nice and quiet–we barely ever hear them at all. ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-earliest-acceptable-time-of-day-to-use-outdoor-power-tools/361772/6 "2006-06-22T21:56:25Z")
> [@winterhawk11](#): > > What do you guys think? Well, in my town you cannot operate a pile driver until 10 AM. But if you run your motorcycle up and down the street making noise on purpose, you can get fined any time of the day. 11 PM, to 10 AM are the “protected” hours for most stuff in this town. Tris ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-earliest-acceptable-time-of-day-to-use-outdoor-power-tools/361772/7 "2006-06-22T21:56:39Z")
For mowing on weekends, my wife says 10am, I say 9am. For Chainsawing I would say 10am is more reasonable. Jim ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-earliest-acceptable-time-of-day-to-use-outdoor-power-tools/361772/8 "2006-06-22T22:00:06Z")
I’d say 10am. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-earliest-acceptable-time-of-day-to-use-outdoor-power-tools/361772/9 "2006-06-22T22:23:34Z")
I would say 10, unless you live somewhere where it gets really freaking hot and it’s the worst part of summer. If it’s going to be 95 and muggy by ten, go ahead and start at 8. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-earliest-acceptable-time-of-day-to-use-outdoor-power-tools/361772/10 "2006-06-22T22:25:14Z")
I’d say 10. Of course the lawn crews in my neighborhood start at 8, which drives me crazy. ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-earliest-acceptable-time-of-day-to-use-outdoor-power-tools/361772/11 "2006-06-22T22:29:45Z")
Right after I wake up is fine. ---
**Author:** ![YaWanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/bbce88/32.png) [@YaWanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaWanna)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-earliest-acceptable-time-of-day-to-use-outdoor-power-tools/361772/12 "2006-06-22T22:32:10Z")
I’d say 8:00 on weekdays, 9:00 on weekends. But in the case of **my** neighbors, I agree with **fessie**. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-earliest-acceptable-time-of-day-to-use-outdoor-power-tools/361772/13 "2006-06-22T23:22:56Z")
Anyone who does as much as cracks a twig before 10 on a weekend should be set afire. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-earliest-acceptable-time-of-day-to-use-outdoor-power-tools/361772/14 "2006-06-22T23:39:27Z")
IMHO weekdays 8.00 am to 9.00 pm weekends 10.00am to 9.00 pm are reasonable assumptions, though you shopuld be willing to stop if a neighbour complains. ---
**Author:** ![some\_white\_dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b487fb/32.png) [@some\_white\_dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/some_white_dude)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-earliest-acceptable-time-of-day-to-use-outdoor-power-tools/361772/15 "2006-06-23T00:02:12Z")
> [@Troy McClure SF](#): > > Anyone who does as much as cracks a twig before 10 on a weekend should be set afire. And extinguished with month-old urine. Especially in a college town. _wanders off, muttering something about all these old coots rising early and operating chainsaws_ ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-earliest-acceptable-time-of-day-to-use-outdoor-power-tools/361772/16 "2006-06-23T00:17:14Z")
I live next door to a race track, usually around 9am you can hear the engines from the race cars come to life. If the cars are racing on the drag strip, the noise can get very loud. That is about the same time you will hear lawnmowers start too. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-earliest-acceptable-time-of-day-to-use-outdoor-power-tools/361772/17 "2006-06-23T00:26:37Z")
So, you guys would be a little irked at the funeral home guy up the street from me who runs his snowblower at 3 am, right? Some things really should get the death penalty. ---
**Author:** ![fuffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fuffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuffle)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-earliest-acceptable-time-of-day-to-use-outdoor-power-tools/361772/18 "2006-06-23T00:34:52Z")
8:00 on weekdays, 10:00 on weekends. Unhappily, I live in Tucson, where it’s not unusual for leaf blowers and hedge trimmers to start up around 6:00 a.m. in order to try and beat the peak. That string of groundskeeper murders last year? That was me. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-earliest-acceptable-time-of-day-to-use-outdoor-power-tools/361772/19 "2006-06-23T01:18:01Z")
[Here](http://www.surfcoast.vic.gov.au/nuisance.htm?p8) are some typical Aussie residential noise regulations. They go for 7am on weekdays and 9am on weekends. Mind you we Aussies are dynamos who are generally up at 6am feeding the roos. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-earliest-acceptable-time-of-day-to-use-outdoor-power-tools/361772/20 "2006-06-23T01:41:34Z")
My opinion would be about 10am on weekends, and 8am for weekdays. But every city has rules about that sort of thing, so calling up City Hall is probably the best way to settle your argument. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-earliest-acceptable-time-of-day-to-use-outdoor-power-tools/361772.md?page=2)