Fate Of Gas Leaf Blowers Decided In Lower Merion Township

LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, PA — After about two and a half hours of public comment from more than 50 people Wednesday, the Lower Merion Board of Commissioners voted to restrict, and ultimately ban, gas-powered leaf blowers in the township.

The commissioners voted 10-4 Wednesday to adopt the ordinance.

Watch the meeting and ordinance discussion below:

Under this new ordinance, the equipment will be restricted from June 1 to Oct 1 in 2026, then from Jan 1 to April 1 and June 1 to Oct 1 in 2027. Those who violate the ordinance will be issued citations.

The seasonal restriction applies to "all persons and entities, including residents, commercial landscapers, contractors, and property maintenance personnel, on all properties within the Township."

The first citation will be a warning, then subsequent violations of the ordinance will come with fines that increase upon repeated violations. The first fine is $100, then $250 for a second violation with a year of the first fine, and then a $600 fine for a third or any subsequent offense with a 12-month period from the first offense. Violators will also be subject to pay court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred by the township in the enforcement proceedings.

Then, on Jan. 1, 2028, gas-powered leaf blowers will then be banned from use between Jan. 1 and Oct. 1. And finally, the township will outright ban gas-powered leaf blowers starting Jan. 1, 2029.

The ordinance also covers the use of portable generators used to power electric leaf blowers or to charge their batteries. Starting June 1, 2026, residents will be barred from using a portable generator for those purposes.

Electric-powered leaf blowers will be permitted year-round under the new ordinance, and these restrictions will not be applicable during snowfall and within 24 hours after snow has stopped.

Similar, township officials can waive any or all of the prohibitions on gas powered leaf blowers in the event of emergency situations — such as a storm that caused fallen trees, branches or debris — for a stated period.

Lastly, the township said starting 30 days after the ordinance goes into effect and for two years after, retail establishments and resale marketplaces that sell gas powered leaf blowers in Lower Merion Township will at all points of sale share conspicuous signage informing customers of the restrictions in the ordinance.

Editor's note: a previous version of this story did not include new language added to the ordinance.