Tampa-Area Lawn Mower Ordinance Tabled

The Tampa Bay Tribune reported Thursday that the Plant City, Fla. city commission met Monday to discuss a proposed ordinance that would ban operation of lawn mowers and other power lawn equipment before 7 a.m. and after 9 p.m. in and within 300 feet of residential zoning. The proposal was tabled pending additional research in a similar law that already exists.

“Research has revealed that the city already has a law on the books prohibiting early-morning lawn mowing by commercial operations,” writes Tampa Bay Tribune Reporter Dave Nicholson. “Most, if not all, complains about lawn mower noise are coming from people living around Walden Lake’s golf course.”

Residents living on or near the country club, located about 25 miles east of Tampa, have complained that mowers running early in the morning have disrupted their sleep, though others note that the noise is part of a price one must pay for living on carefully manicured greens. A representative of the Walden Lake golf course told commissioners that at least some of the work on the course must be done before the first golfers tee off in the morning.

City Attorney Ken Buchman said his research shows there’s already a law prohibiting mowing by commercial operations such as golf courses before 7 a.m. and after 10 p.m. The commissioners voted to table the new law until city staff members can meet with interested parties to see if a compromise can be reached.

Reporter Dave Nicholson can be reached at 813/865-4432.

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