Consideration of Options
and Impacts of a Potential
Citywide Gas-Powered Leaf
Blower Ban
City Council
July 29, 2025
COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
1 BACKGROUND
November 15, 2022
Then Vice Mayor Nick Schultz requested a report
on banning gas-powered leaf blowers
October 19, 2023
Then Council Member Tamala Takahashi requested
a memorandum on the ban
September 10, 2024
First Step Report presented to City Council
Directed to return with options/impacts of
a potential citywide ban
2 OPTIONS TO CONSIDER
1) Allow the use of gas-powered leaf
blowers to be eliminated through
attrition
- OR -
2) Direct staff to develop and introduce
a draft Ordinance banning the use of
gas-powered leaf blowers
3 CURRENT STATE LEGISLATION
• State Executive Order N -79-20 (2020)
• Assembly Bill 1346 (2021)
• California Air Resources Board (CARB) (2024)
Regulations require new SORE models sold in California to be zero-emission
Does NOT ban the use, repair, or sale of existing gas- powered SOREs
4 BENEFITS OF A CITYWIDE BAN
5 Benefits
Potential for Reduced Air Pollution (CARB)
Possible Respiratory Health Improvements (CARB)
Slight Noise Reduction (National Institutes of Health) • Gas: 65 to 80 dBA at 50 feet
• Electric: 65 to 75 dBA at 50 feet
IMPACTS OF A CITYWIDE BAN
Impacts
• Financial
• Replacement/Increased Costs
• Job Loss/Hour Reductions
• Disparate Impact
• Enforcement Limitations /
Resistance
• Low Efficiency of Zero-Emission
Equipment
• Noise Frequency
• E-Waste
• Ability to Retain City Contracts
6 OPTION 1
Allow the Use of Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers to be
Eliminated Through Attrition
• CARB’s Regulatory Ban on Sales
Equipment Purchased or Replaced Must be
Zero-Emission
• Minimizes Economic Impacts and Financial Burdens
Transition Costs
Job Loss
Battery-Powered Limitations
Resistance and Enforcement Challenges
Disparate Impact
7 OPTION 2
Direct Staff to Develop and Introduce a Draft Ordinance Banning the Use of Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers
Local Cities with Gas-Powered Leaf Blower Bans:
Beverly Hills (1978)
West Hollywood (1986)
Santa Monica (1991)
Los Angeles (1998)
South Pasadena (2022)
Glendale (2023)
Pasadena (2023)
8 OPTION 2 CONTINUED
Suggested Implementation for Option 2
Two-Year Phased Approach
Year 1
• Education and Outreach
City website postings
Mailers
Flyers at public counters
Community workshop
Year 2
• Ban Effective
Enforcement delayed one
year
• Continuing education and
outreach
• Field outreach via code
compliance
9 ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT TO THE CITY
Description of
Replacement/Upgrade # of Units Cost Per Unit TOTAL
Modification to City Maintenance
Vehicles
49 Vehicles $700.00 $34,300
Vehicle Modification Labor 144
Hours - $9,180.72
Replacement of Gas -Powered
Leaf Blowers with Electric
32 Leaf Blowers $2,235 $71,520
Extra Batteries (two per leaf
blower)
64 Batteries $1,105 $70,720
Climate -Controlled Room for
Overnight Charging 1
Included in City
Yard Services
Building Project
–
TOTAL REPLACEMENT/UPGRADE COSTS TO CITY $185,720.72
10 RECOMMENDATION
11 CONTACT
Katie Picha
Administrative Officer
Community Development Department
[email protected]
818-238-5176
12