City's Gas-Powered Leaf Blower Ban Aims To Lessen Air Pollution

ALAMEDA, CA — The city of Alameda's gas-powered leaf blower ban, part of the city's Climate Action and Resiliency Plan to eliminate air emissions and pollutants took effect at the beginning of the year. While no data on its effect within the city has been released to date, the overly noisy small off road engines, are now illegal for use in the city.

Alameda, like hundreds of other cities across the United States, banned those blowers after numerous experts said the small, two-stroke engines release "shockingly large amounts of pollution." Meanwhile, environmentalists have repeatedly said "using a commercial gas leaf blower for an hour produces emissions equal to driving from Denver to Los Angeles."

The noise and air pollution from gas-powered small off-road engines, also known as SOREs, is so bad that in 2021 Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill phasing out gas-powered leaf blowers and other gas-powered lawn equipment— making California the first state in the nation to do so.

According to a press release from Democratic Assemblymember Marc Berman's office, SORE equipment lets off high levels of oxides of nitrogen, reactive organic gases and particulate matter, which adversely impact human health. These gases can cause lung cancer, heart disease, strokes, asthma and other respiratory ailments.

Berman was one of the authors of AB 1346, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2024.

Since September 2o21 when the city of Alameda passed its own ordinance banning gas-powered leaf blowers, city staff has worked to educate the public and local businesses about the ban, the city of Alameda said.

Some alternatives to gas-powered leaf blowers include a variety of electric and battery-powered leaf blowers on the market or you can just go old school and use a rake to remove those pesky fallen leaves and cut grass.

Since signing Ordinance No. 3307 into law, the city has also encouraged residents and businesses to report the illegal sale or use of gas-powered leaf blowers, even setting up an online portal where reports can be made.

According to the city, penalties are in place for those found to be in violation on the ordinance.

"The city will first attempt to educate community members about the ban and alternatives to gas-powered leaf blowers, but the ordinance does allow the city to issue citations to violators in order to bring the community into compliance," the city explained. "Any person may be held liable for a violation; this includes the person using a gas-powered leaf blower, an employee, a business, a tenant, or the property owner."

To replace a gas-powered leaf blower check out the Bay Area Air Quality Management District's gardening equipment exchange program here. Residents can also apply to participate in the State of California's CORE program, which provides vouchers to purchase new equipment.

In addition, all gardeners are required to have a valid Business License with the City of Alameda.