South Miami's new equipment ordinance, which goes into effect immediately, restricts when lawn maintenance tools "?u including lawn mowers, edgers, weed trimmers, leaf blowers, chain saws, chippers and stump grinders "?u can be used near residences and outdoor restaurants.

The city of South Miami has passed new regulations that limit the use of noise producing landscape equipment in residential areas.

Commercial landscaping companies are no longer allowed to use equipment from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. during the week, and Saturday hours are limited to 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Commercial operation on Sundays and holidays is prohibited. Non-commercial operation – i.e., residents working on their own property – is allowed after 8 a.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. on weekends, until 30 minutes after sunset.

South Miami's board of commissioners voted 4-1 on June 19 to delete language in the new landscape equipment ordinance that would have prohibited using gas-powered leaf-blowers within 50 feet of any residence or outdoor restaurant, after the owner of a local landscape services firm spoke out against the ban, explaining that his employees would not be able to work efficiently and operating costs would skyrocket. The rest of the ordinance, which deals with noise created by lawn equipment, was also passed 4-1.

The regulations include an exception to the time restriction for neighbors that give written permission allowing for landscape equipment use during the restricted hours.

The new ordinance establishes decibel limits for any blower, fan or internal combustion engine in residential neighborhoods. Violation brings a warning for the first offense, and up to a $500 fine for subsequent offenses. The city also banned the use of lawn-maintenance equipment that causes "particulate matter to blow or drift in or through another residential property."