CITY OF SAN MATEO
CITY OF SAN MATEO
Agenda Report
City Hall
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo CA 94403
www.cityofsanmateo.org
Agenda Number: 13 Section Name: CONSENT CALENDAR Account Number: 10-1311 File ID: 26-10975 TO: City Council
FROM: Alex Khojikian, City Manager
PREPARED BY: City Clerk's Office
MEETING DATE: March 16, 2026
SUBJECT:
Operation of Leaf Blowers — Ordinance Adoption
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt an Ordinance to amend San Mateo Municipal Code Chapter 10.80 "Operation of Leaf Blowers" to prohibit the use of gas leaf blowers.
BACKGROUND:
On March 2, 2026, the City Council introduced an Ordinance to amend Chapter 10.80 of the San Mateo Municipal Code to prohibit the use of gas leaf blowers. The proposed amendment would prohibit the use of gas-powered leaf blowers citywide, provide that electric leaf blowers are subject to existing specified hours of operation, and add Juneteenth to the list of holidays on which the operation of electric leaf blowers is prohibited. The Ordinance would establish an effective date of January 1, 2027, approximately nine months after adoption to allow time for transition. The Ordinance also allows for administrative citations to be issued by code enforcement staff to both the operator of a gas leaf blower and the property owner who hired or employed services using such equipment.
If adopted, the Ordinance will become effective on January 1, 2027.
BUDGET IMPACT:
The implementation and enforcement of this Ordinance will be integrated into the City’s existing code enforcement procedures. On average, the City has issued 23 electric leaf blower rebates and amounting to an average of $3,142 per year, supported by the City’s Sustainability Program budget. Staff anticipate budgeting $10,000 per year for electric leaf blower equipment and battery replacement in future budget cycles.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:
This Ordinance Adoption is not a project subject to CEQA, because it is an organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5).)
NOTICE PROVIDED
All meeting noticing requirements were met.
ATTACHMENTS
Att 1 – Proposed Ordinance
Att 2 – Proposed Ordinance (Tracked Changes)
Att 3 – Public Comment
CITY OF SAN MATEO
STAFF CONTACT
Chantal Eaton, Deputy City Clerk
[email protected]
(650) 522-7044
Andrea Chow, Sustainability Analyst
[email protected]
(650) 522-7007