Gardeners urged to avoid £5k fine for mowing lawn over the weekend
Spring is a season of sunshine and showers, but warmer and drier conditions are gradually starting to arrive which means more time can be spent enjoying the outdoors.
May is a peak growing period for gardens in the UK as it’s the month wedged between spring and summer, so there’s always plenty to do in the way of planting, sowing and mowing. Lawns grown rapidly in May so will often require weekly mowing to keep grass in a healthy conditon. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) recommends just removing a small amount each time and never taking off more than one-third of the grass height. Lawns that are left too long between cuts can suffer from loose and weak growth, so mowing once a week or once a fortnight is a good rule of thumb to follow to keep your grass looking luscious and healthy.
But keen gardeners planning to mow the lawn on a weekend should be wary of doing so at certain times of the day, or they could be landed with a fine of up to £5,000.
Local councils can issue fines to those who mow their lawns outside of sociable hours simply because it creates a noise disturbance. If a council determines a noise disturbance, they can issue a Noise Abatement Notice, which requires the noise to be stopped during prohibited hours.
Mowing between 8am and 8pm is generally considered safe on weekdays, as these are sociable hours, while on Saturdays and Sundays, mowing should be restricted to between the hours of 9am and 7pm. So those who start up their mower outside of these hours risk being handed a fine of up to £5,000 for creating a noise disturbance during unsociable times of the day.
East Coast Fencing says: “Most people naturally opt for weekends to complete household and garden chores, including mowing the lawn. However, weekends are also when noise complaints tend to rise as families aim to relax or catch up on sleep. To prevent frustrations, pay extra attention to the timing of your mowing on Saturdays and Sundays.
“On weekdays, acceptable mowing hours typically range from around 8am to 8pm in residential areas. This range takes into account workers who may need to start their lawns early before their workday or later in the evening upon returning home. Weekday allowances are often slightly more flexible compared to weekends.
“During weekends, stricter noise rules may apply due to the majority of residential homes being occupied throughout the day. For instance, many councils recommend no lawn mowing before 9am on Saturdays and 10am on Sundays, with a cut-off time of 7pm. These specific timings may vary depending on local council noise regulations, so checking their advice is strongly recommended.”
While there’s no law that specifically prevents lawn mowing during certain hours of the day, experts say it’s safest to wait to mow your lawn after 8am on a weekday, or after 9am on Saturdays and Sundays, to avoid being fined for being a noise nuisance.
Daniel McAfee, head of legal operations at Lawhive, explains: “Non-compliance with an abatement notice can lead to prosecution and a fine of up to £5,000 for domestic premises. This is not an empty threat – these fines are real, and local authorities do enforce them.
“There is no nationwide restriction on when individuals may cut their grass; however, the Environmental Protection Act 1990 provides local authorities with powers to address noise that constitutes a statutory nuisance.
“To be more precise, noise that is excessive, unreasonable, and persistent, particularly during unsociable hours, can result in abatement notices, fines up to £5,000, and in some cases, even prosecution.
“Avoid very early or late hours. Generally speaking, it’s safest to operate noisy tools between 9am and 7pm. Notify neighbours in advance of using machinery like hedge trimmers or pressure washers. Opt for quieter tools where possible.
“Limit duration and avoid back-to-back noisy days, especially on weekends. Consider your neighbours’ specific circumstances (e.g., shift workers, infants), and adjust accordingly.”
