Mowing Lawn After 8pm: Regulations, Etiquette

High risk of complaints and fines if you mow lawn outside of agreeable hours, especially in residential areas is a very real problem.

In essence, mowing after dark and especially after 8pm is a surefire way to get in the doghouse with the law. It’s not a good way to show respect for other people’s property. Not only is it annoying and disruptive to have a noisy machine going on in your backyard but it also shows a complete disregard for other people’s time, privacy and peace.

But that doesn’t mean you’re doomed to a life of patchy lawns.

Find Out: Can Grass Seed Burn Your Lawn? How To Prevent Dead Patches

Here’s how you can minimize unpleasant situations in the future and avoid interfering with other people’s neighborhood lifestyles.

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Is there a law on mowing your lawn?

Maintenance responsibility involving most exterior spaces of a residential property is typically delegated to the homeowner.

In most cities, this prerogative is held by law.

Some exceptions exist in which a city may require that the homeowner hire an agent.

In some cases, not mowing could be deemed as a sign of neglect and attract the attention of the city.

Police, fire, or other public safety officials could then cite the homeowner for unkempt property if they become endangered by it.

Official ordinances and codes vary by zip code.

In Florida for example, a “repeat offender” was fined $30K for failing to mow his lawn between May and August 2018.

In effect, a few cities such as Hampton in Virginia, Peterborough, Toronto, Winnipeg and Edmonton have already imposed city-wide lawn mowing laws and fines.

Noise violation is also a common cause for concern, especially in residential neighborhoods and residential community associations like the Homeowner’s Association.

Best temperature to mow grass

The ideal conditions for mowing are temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.44 degree Celsius).

Usually at this temperature, it’s warm enough for the grass to grow but not too warm that it may harm the grass.

Weather conditions may also affect your ability to mow. For example, if it’s very humid, the grass may require additional time and effort to mow.

Soggy grass can dull blades, make them flop over, clog the mower’s engine and make the grass difficult to cut.

It is also possible for cold, frosty conditions to cause recently cut grass to wilt or the blades to suffer damage.

Partially exposed roots are also susceptible to snagging and bruising.

And in the event of inclement weather, cold-weather fungus can easily develop, further reducing the fighting chance of your grass against premature breakdown and dying.

How early can I start mowing the lawn?

You should not try to mow the lawn before it is fully dry.

Wait until after 8am to start mowing if rain has not been forecasted or unless you are under a contract to provide maintenance.

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Early morning dewy and damp grass is the trickiest to work with.

It tends to clog the mower much more quickly and therefore can cause overheating.

Clumps of wet clippings are harder to blow off and can stick more often to the mower’s underside than dry clippings.

Not to mention that they can suffocate the grass blades causing them to die if neglected.

In addition, mowing when wet will increase the risk of slipping and falling which could result in a serious injury.

Fungi thrive in wet conditions and the last thing you need is the widespread spread of a significant disease while trying to maintain a healthy lawn.

What’s the etiquette around mowing your lawn?

Few people do not realize that there are unwritten rules and codes of conduct in almost everything.

A lawn is no different, especially when it comes to the equipment used by two sides of a fence.

While many people don’t feel lost to the fact that there are established rules for mowing a lawn, others are forced to make note of these guidelines.

The reason being, other people are also aware of these rules and will be watching you…especially if you’re not familiar with the rules or the neighborhood you move into.

As such, here are some tips and pointers which might help you out:

You don’t want your lawn to get out of hand, keep it neat and tidy
Respect your neighbor’s outdoor special event by not firing up your riding lawn mower in the middle of it (Read More: How Often to Change Riding Mower Belt)
Try to keep the noise down and avoid being a nuisance on the block when using a leaf blower
Be aware that children may be playing and also take extra care when you’re operating heavy machinery
Do not allow leaves and debris build up on the sidewalk or other common access areas
Know where the property line or boundary is and do not mow past this
Be cognizant of local regulations on composting, fertilizer, pesticide, or herbicide use
Ensure you clean after mowing, as clippings can harbor pests, insects and disease
Be mindful of what time of day you decide to mow your lawn so that you don’t upset the neighbors