Gas-Powered Leaf Blower Ban Reminder Issued By Chevy Chase Village

CHEVY CHASE, MD — Chevy Chase Village’s ban on gasoline-powered leaf blowers remains in effect year-round, the village reminded residents and landscape contractors on Wednesday.

The village’s ban is different from the Town of Chevy Chase, which adopted an ordinance that bans gas leaf blowers, except during the autumn months.

“Some landscape crews have mistakenly assumed that this seasonal exemption applies in the Village — which it does not,” the village said in a news release. “The Village ordinance prohibits the use of gas leaf blowers every day of the year.”

Maximum noise limits also apply to battery-powered blowers. Montgomery County’s noise ordinance applies to the use of battery-powered and electric leaf blowers. The ordinance states that “a person must not ... use a leaf blower at any time that has an average sound level exceeding 70 dBA at a distance of 50 feet,” the village said.

The village's ban on the use of gas-powered leaf blowers went into effect on Jan. 1, 2022. The Village Board approved the ban in December 2019, citing adverse environmental, human health and quality of life impacts resulting from the use of gas-powered leaf blowers.

The village encourages residents to report blowers that are suspected to be in violation of the ordinance to the Chevy Chase Village Communications Center. A village officer will be dispatched to confirm whether the blower is being operated in compliance with village and county regulations. First time violators will receive a warning and guidance for operating the blowers legally, the village said.