Leaf Blower
Regulations
Andrea Chow
Sustainability Analyst, City Manager’s Office
1 Recommendation
• Provide direction on how to update the leaf blower ordinance to prohibit the use of gas leaf blowers.
2 Background
• Other cities have implemented bans
• Burlingame, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Palo Alto
• Previous San Mateo City Council discussion
• Focus on engagement, rebate program, and City Operations • City Council Priority for FY 2025-26
• Develop and implement an ordinance to prohibit the use of gas leaf blowers within the City of San Mateo.
3 State and City Regulations
• State Regulations
• New equipment Model Years 2024 and later must be electric • City Regulations – Chapter 10.80 “Operation of Leaf Blowers” • Hours of Operation
• Monday through Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
• Saturday 9:00 – 5:00 pm
• Applicable to residential zoning districts and areas bordering residentially zoned neighborhoods
4 City Rebate and Operations
• City Rebates: $100 for residents, $500 for businesses • Total average rebates distributed $3,276 per year
• Engagement and outreach
• Mailers, flyers, emails, social media
• City operations
• PCE Member Agency grant funded electric equipment
• City fully transitioned to electric equipment in September 2025 5 Average Number of Rebates Average Rebate Amount
Residential 19 $79.52
Business 4 $399.94
HOURS OF OPERATION
• Monday through Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm and Saturday
9:00 – 5:00 pm
• Applies in residential zoning districts and areas bordering residentially zoned neighborhoods
Should hours of operation be expanded citywide?
6 ENFORCEMENT PHASING
• Enforcement challenges
• Delayed enforcement date from ordinance adoption
• Burlingame began enforcement 9 months after ordinance adoption • Menlo Park began enforcement 12 months after ordinance adoption 7 ASSIGNMENT OF PENALTIES
• SMMC 1.10 Administrative Citations
• Citations begin at $100 and escalate to $200 and $500 per occurrence
• Enforcement of penalties against the owners of the property, or any other responsible party who uses gas leaf blowers or have hired, employed, or engaged the services of a person or business utilizing gas leaf blowers
8 Recommendation
• Provide direction on how to update the leaf blower ordinance to prohibit the use of gas leaf blowers.
9 City Council direction needed:
1. Hours of Operation: Should the ordinance apply electric leaf blower hours of operation to residential zoned and adjacent to residential zoned areas only or expand the electric leaf blower hours of operation to apply citywide?
2. Enforcement Phasing: Should enforcement of the ordinance begin 9 months, 12 months, or at a different time after ordinance adoption?
3. Assignment of penalties: Should the ordinance include the option to enforce penalties against the property owners and/or any other responsible party who uses gas leaf blower or have hired, employed, or engaged the services of a person or business utilizing gas leaf blowers?
4. Does the City Council have other recommendations for the ordinance prohibiting gas leaf blower use?
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