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Mowing the lawn is a chore most homeowners have to handle. While it might not be fun, it is necessary, and ignoring it will only lead to an unkempt yard. It can be hard to find the time in your busy schedule though, and during the summer mowing can be pretty uncomfortable. It’s usually best to mow in the early morning or late evening when the sun isn’t as high, but that isn’t always possible. This has led some homeowners to wonder if they can mow their lawn at night.
Can You Mow Your Lawn At Night?
The short answer is yes, you can technically mow your lawn at night. There are no specific laws against this in any state, however, local noise ordinances can get in the way. Since lawn mowers are loud, your neighbors are likely to complain.
While you technically are able to mow at night, that doesn’t mean you should. There could be legitimate reasons for mowing at night, but you should probably avoid it whenever possible.
Benefits of Mowing At Night
The main benefit that leads people to cut their grass during the nighttime is the lack of heat. This can make the chore more bearable, especially if you’re dealing with a heavy push mower.
People are usually more free in the night time as well, leaving more time to focus on household chores. It can also be the ideal time for people that might have alternative work schedules, and spend most of the day resting.
Legal Issues
In all 50 states of America there is no law against cutting your grass at night. The only kind of legal issue you might face would be through local noise ordinances. Typically, local ordinances deem loud noise a criminal offense if it “disturbs the peace.”
Since lawn mowers are so loud, they could easily fall into this category. Most restrictions related to noise are enforced during night hours, usually from 11pm to 7am. If you make a habit of cutting your lawn at night and your neighbors are constantly reporting it, they could even sue you.
Consideration for Neighbors
In order to prevent possible legal repercussions, and keep things civil with your neighbors, try to be considerate of them before mowing your lawn during night hours.
You can talk to them about it a few days before you plan on mowing, and explain the situation. If you remain polite and kind, your neighbors are more likely to be understanding. The odds are, they won’t mind if it only happens once or twice, and you approach them about it first.
Making Your Lawn Mower Quiet
Gasoline powered lawn mowers are loud, and can easily be considered a disturbance for close by neighbors. If cutting your yard at night is going to be routine, it might be smart to purchase an electric lawnmower or a reel mower.
Both of these options are quieter, and will be less of a nuisance to neighbors. In addition, there are a few things you can do to make a gas mower quieter. You can add a silencer, or replace a broken muffler to drastically reduce the sound. If your lawn mower is quiet enough, it’s possible you’ll be able to mow at night without your neighbors even noticing.
Staying Safe At Night
If you will be mowing your lawn during the night, make sure to stay safe by taking the appropriate precautions. Mowing can be dangerous anytime that you do it, but doing so at night has additional challenges to consider.
For one, you need to be able to properly see without the sun. The best way to do this is by adding lights to the front of the mower. Hard hat lights can also make it easier to see, and add an extra layer of protection in case you fall.
Holding a flashlight is also an option, but will quickly become annoying. You should also double check that everything is cleared away, such as sprinklers or yard furniture.
The Best Times To Mow
Mowing at night is possible, but there are other times that might be better. In general, midmorning or late afternoon are the best times for cutting grass. The sun isn’t too high in the sky yet, and the dew from early morning has completely dried.
Conclusion
It is perfectly legal to mow your lawn at night, and there are even some good reasons for doing so, but that doesn’t mean your neighbors will appreciate it. In some cases they could even sue for noise damages or disturbance.
It’s always best to give your neighbors a warning about anything that could be potentially disruptive in order to avoid possible issues. If you don’t live close to anyone that will be bothered you don’t have to worry as much, but you should still be focused on safety.
