Why Using a Snow Blower Could Get You a $500 Fine in WA

As the first snowflakes begin to fall in Yakima, residents face a choice: shovel or fire up the snow blower? But wait, there's a catch. If you happen to use a snow blower at the wrong time of day in certain parts of Washington State, you *could* be facing a $500 fine!

Sooner than later, it'll start to snow in Washington, and, sometimes, when it does, especially in the Yakima Valley, it dumps it all at once.

Yes, you can use a snow shovel or hire some neighborhood kids to help, but if you have a snow blower, that's an easy way to go about it.

❄️ Snow Blower Fine: Unpacking Policy vs. Standard Use

Now, hold on. I don't mean simply by using a snow blower you bought at the local store like anyone else in town. If you use it during a certain time, however, you could be violating some Washington State rules.

From the Department of Ecology of the State of Washington:

Any loud noise that occurs between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. could be considered noise pollution unless a local ordinance sets different standards. The zoning of your location can also determine if a noise is considered “pollution.” For example, industrial zones can have louder noises than residential zones.

This is a base timeline for bigger cities in Washington, but small towns can modify local ordinances as needed. In Yakima, for instance, they have an earlier time, with a local noise ordinance in effect from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., according to ecode360 and nonoise.org.

Read More: Is It True: You Can Roll Uphill at Gravity Hill near Prosser, WA?

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ADVICE: If you must use your snow blower, do it after 6 a.m. Sure, it may annoy the neighbors but at least you won't get a fine due to noise pollution.