Is It Legal to Mow Your Lawn Early in The Morning in Colorado?

Grand Junction's first triple-digit day should have arrived on June 15th, but the National Weather Service decided to record a high of 99 degrees that day. Regardless of whether it is 99 or 100, nobody wants to be outside mowing the lawn during weather like that.

To avoid melting in the backyard, many Coloradans like to cut the grass during the first half of the day. So, how early is too early? The answer changes depending on where you live in the state.

State vs. Local Rules — What Coloradans Need to Know

The Centennial State has not established a statewide set of hours acceptable for lawn mowing. Instead, noise ordinances are handled at a local or municipal level. Most communities have established 'quiet hours' that dictate when it is acceptable to run a machine that produces significant noise, such as a lawnmower.

• The Denver Municipal Code allows for machines that produce 55 decibels to run from 7 AM to 7 PM. So mowing before 7 AM is a no-no in the Mile-High City.
• The Grand Junction Municipal Code is a little different, allowing for machines that produce 55 decibels to run from 6 AM to 8 PM.

What Are Typical Quiet Hours in Colorado Towns?

In Denver, residents can call 3-1-1 to report a noise complaint. Communities like Grand Junction direct residents to dial their local police department's Non-emergency number to report a noise complaint. In Grand Junction, that number is 970-242-6707. 

The city of Denver usually enforces noise ordinance violations between 10 PM and 7 AM (weekdays), 10 PM and 8 AM (weekends). Colorado Springs: 10 PM to 6 AM. Grand Junction: Generally enforced between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., but varies. Boulder: Quiet hours start around 11 p.m.

Keep It Neighbor-Friendly in Colorado

Most people will receive a warning for a first offense. Multiple noise ordinance violations could earn you a ticket that continues to get more expensive with each offense.

Just because the clock says you are not breaking the law, doesn't mean you should fire up your mower at 6 AM. Try to start at 8 AM or later. If you need to mow early, talk to your neighbors and at least provide a heads-up if you must start at 6 AM. For small lawns, consider an electric mower. They make less noise and do not need gas.

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