To have a beautiful lawn, it is necessary to mow it very frequently. But when you work outdoors, you have little choice but to mow on Sundays or even during public holidays. This kind of noisy gardening work has every chance of not pleasing the neighborhood, especially if the grassed areas are very large because this generates noise pollution for a relatively long time. But whether the garden is huge or very small, mowing it makes noise. Let's see what the law says about mowing during Sundays and public holidays and whether the legislator has set schedules or not.
There is enough to curse after your neighbor when you only have Sundays and public holidays to finally relax at home, in peace, and enjoy your natural space. When the beneficial silence is suddenly disturbed by the sound of a lawnmower who backfires for hours, the neighbor may be extremely friendly, he is rarely well seen that day. But can we force him to stop mowing his lawn immediately on the grounds that it is a Sunday or a public holiday? Are there limits in terms of days and times to be respected? Of course, and that's what we're going to see more closely.
To know precisely the answer to these questions, it is necessary to inquire with the town hall of your municipality or visit its official website because in terms of noise pollution related to gardening work, and particularly lawn mowing, the rules put in place by the legislator may experience some subtle modifications at the local level.
Sometimes they are more flexible than the national rules, sometimes much more drastic. In fact, there is legislation that can be consulted for information on the government website, but noisy gardening work, such as mowing for example, is authorized provided that it is carried out during the specified time slots, for each department , by prefectural order.
However, the mayor of each municipality is entitled to add some restrictions if he deems it useful, for the well-being of its citizens. Sometimes also, a mayor can grant some generosity to his fellow citizens. A municipal decree is therefore added to the prefectural decree … So it's not so easy to find your way around when you absolutely have to mow your lawn on a Sunday or a public holiday but you don't want to break the law at all.
Small special mention for the co-owners :they are required to rely on the co-ownership regulations which clearly indicates the special arrangements in terms of mowing. In the event of an infraction, the syndicate of co-ownership can intervene to maintain order.
The tenant of a dwelling with a garden is no exception to the rule:he too must respect the law in force if he does not want to be called to order by his owner when the latter is warned by the neighborhood of incivism of his tenant who allowed himself to mow the lawn on a public holiday at 7:00 a.m. in the cool, for example. He must therefore comply with what the prefect and the mayor have decided, and if he rents a condominium, he has every interest in reading (or re-reading) the condominium regulations.
If the rules are strict on mower noise , it is because noise pollution is a scourge on health and can seriously harm people. The law is therefore there to regulate things and that no one does as he pleases without taking into account the tranquility of his neighborhood.
Thus, at the national level, it is authorized to mow your lawn on Sundays and public holidays between 10:00 am and noon sharp . However, some largesse is granted in some municipalities, lawn mowing is also authorized from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. only on Sundays but not on public holidays. Perhaps there are a few small towns in France where the regulations are less restrictive.
Do not systematically take these indications at face value. Before taking the lawn mower out of the laundry room and revving its engine, it is essential to check with the town hall since the mayor can exercise his general police powers which were conferred on it by modification of the General Code of Territorial Communities in 1990. It is therefore fully authorized to carry out the fight against neighborhood noise by any means. It would be a shame to have to pay a fine for not having complied with the law, because in the field of noise pollution caused by the mower, it is difficult to benefit from an exemption.
Anyone who mows their lawn outside the time slots and days established by decree is liable to a penalty . It can be verbalized following the report of the offense , and have to pay a fixed fine of €68 . This sum is to be paid immediately or within a maximum of 45 days. If payment is not made within the time limit, the fine increases to €180 … enough to afford a beautiful mower!
Finally, note that if mowing is regulated, it is the same for other noisy DIY work, respect for the tranquility of the neighborhood obliges. On good terms…
