Find Out: Is it Illegal to Mow Your Lawn at Night?

Mowing increases lawn density, keeps pests away, and makes a lawn more attractive. Sometimes a busy daytime schedule makes you think about cutting your grass at night. Before you think of cranking that lawnmower, find out if it’s illegal to mow your lawn at night.

In most states, mowing your lawn at night is illegal because of noise. The action can attract complaints, lawsuits, and fines from the authority. Further mowing in the late hours of the night, when the grass is dewy, could kill your lawn or damage your equipment. 

Is it Illegal to Mow Your Lawn at Night?

Using a lawnmower at night isn’t itself illegal in any of the states, but it becomes a problem due to the noise disturbance it causes.  Most local ordinances restrict noise at night to 55 decibels and below, but both electric and gas lawnmowers produce noise above 70 decibels.

The US Environmental Protection Agency has elaborated on noise levels affecting health and welfare. By mowing at night, you are breaching these regulations, and the action can attract lawsuits and fines. 

Apart from the noise factor, mowing at night is also not safe to the grass, the equipment, and you as the mower operator. During the night, there is insufficient light to see the details. You can easily trip and hurt yourself or knock your lawnmower against an obstacle and damage it.

Most of the time, the grass becomes dewy in the wee hours of the night. Mowing wet lawn is highly discouraged by turf experts as it can harm your lawn. Wet grass clippings can also clog your lawnmower blades, resulting in uneven and poor grass cutting.

Nighttime is always the best time for grass to recover after mowing. By mowing at night, you expose the already weakened grass to the elements. This can be the beginning of troubles in your lawn. Weak grass cannot stand against fungi, pests, and diseases.

How Late Can You Mow Your Lawn?

The answer to this question entirely depends on where you live and what your local ordinance laws dictate about noise at night. There are places where you are allowed to mow only up to 10. Pm. The most important thing is to let your neighbors know about it and possibly agree on it.

Ideally, mow your lawn up to 7.pm. Beyond this time, you are likely to have disputes with your neighbours and the authority.

What Time Can I Legally Mow My Lawn?

Depending on where you live, you may not be required to mow your lawn before 7 or 8 in the morning during the week and 9 am during weekends. So before you start creating any ruckus, research or call your local officials to confirm the right time.

Mowing too early in the morning or late in the evening can attract fines. Even if it is legal in your area, starting too early in the morning is a bad idea. 

In the early morning, between 6 am and 8 am, every plant is still dewy. It is unhealthy and hard to cut wet grass. So, the best time to mow your lawn is between 8. am and 12. pm. By this time, you shouldn’t worry about the morning dew or offending your neighbors.

Cutting grass between noon and 2 pm is also not a good idea. At this time, the grass has already lost plenty of water to the sun. Trimming grass in this state leads to more dehydration of the plants, and it will take longer for them to recover from the heat damage.

Running a lawnmower from noon to 4 .pm is now the worst idea. At this time, the weather is too hot, the grass is dehydrated, and your equipment can overheat. In most parts, the day becomes cooler beyond 4 p.m., and therefore you can start your mowing all the way to 6.pm.

After 6.pm, you should wrap up your mowing activities, clean your lawn mower, and take a rest. By this time, everyone is trickling back into their homes, and it is not a good idea to disturb them.

Can I Use a Reel Mower at Night?

Reel mowers are quieter than electric and gas lawn mowers. In a well-lit yard, you can use a reel mower to trim your lawn at night without disturbing your neighbors. However, some local ordinance laws still prohibit any gardening activities during the night. As said, confirm with the officials before you start mowing.

Final Thought

Mowing your lawn at night is not welcome in many localities. The action can attract complaints from neighbors and fines from the authorities. Consider mowing your lawn during the day when the grass is not wet. If you are in doubt, always refer to your local ordinance laws.