California's year-old Green Lawn Care Law bans the sale of new gas-powered lawn care equipment. The legislation, which took effect Jan. 1, 2024, covers gas-powered string trimmers, lawn mowers, leaf blowers manufactured after Dec. 31, 2023.
California recently passed a law, AB 1346, banning the sale of gas-powered leaf blowers and string trimmers (weed whackers) starting July 1, 2024. The law also establishes emissions reductions for existing gas-powered leaf blowers as of July 1, 2022.
You can still use the gas lawn mower you've already purchased. The new California legislation applies only to lawn mower sales starting in 2024 — it doesn't prohibit using gas-powered lawn tools you already own. Plus, stores will be allowed to sell out their current inventory.
Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Laguna Beach and Del Mar ban the use of all leaf blowers, both gas and electric. Among the cities in California that have banned gas-powered leaf blowers are Berkeley, Belvedere, Mill Valley, Sonoma, Los Gatos. Los Altos, Oakland and Palo Alto.
Current City of Los Angeles law, LAMC section 112.04(c), bans the use of gas powered blowers within 500 feet of a residential property. However, since becoming law in 1998, the City has not had ample resources to effectively enforce the ban.
Operating a gas leaf blower can cause permanent hearing loss in 2 hours and can impact 90 nearby homes. The low-frequency noise of gas blowers travels further than the noise from electric blowers and penetrates through windows more readily.
Not only do gas-powered leaf blowers create extreme noise pollution — the most powerful can produce sounds of up to 100 decibels of low-frequency noise, around the same as a Boeing 737 taking off — they are also an environmental menace and a threat to human health.
One of the most effective ways to use a leaf blower is to clear out gutters. The powerful gusts of air can quickly clear out debris such as leaves, twigs, and other small objects that may clog your gutters. This can help prevent water damage to your home and save you the hassle of manually cleaning out the gutters.
Gas-powered leaf blowers are one of my pet peeves. They are hazardous, not only due to their emissions but also because of the damagingly loud noise they produce, which can contribute to permanent hearing loss in both operators and those nearby. Leaf blower noise at 50 feet ranges from 70 to 75 decibels.
In September 2020, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order that outlaws the sale of new gas-powered small-motor equipment — engines that produce less than 25 gross horsepower — in 2024.
Starting in January of 2024, the new law requires all new lawn tools, such as mowers, leaf blowers, and chainsaws, to be zero-emission models moving forward.
Use lawn mower with collecting bin.
6. Use an Electric Leaf Vacuum - catches and mulches leaves as they are sucked up; gives control over placement of leaves; eliminates exhaust and particulate air pollution problems; 50-70% quieter than gas blowers.
Follow local rules and ordinances about when to use leaf blowers. Do not use it very early in the morning or very late in the day. You will want to check wind direction and intensity. Never point the nozzle or blow debris toward people, pets or houses.
Use a broom or rake instead of a gas blower to eliminate massive pollution, dust and noise. They are more efficient tools than many people think. Try a lawn sweeper – these amazing tools clean up leaves and lawn clippings quickly, easily and quietly They are not expensive to purchase and require no gasoline.
Gas leaf blowers should not be disposed of in regular waste bins or sent to the landfill. Contact your local recycling center or municipal waste facility to inquire about their specific guidelines for recycling gas leaf blowers.
Walk-behind leaf blowers (also called push blowers) are designed for the heavy-duty landscaping jobs. They have the power to clear leaves and debris.
Final Verdict. While the decision is ultimately up to you, if you're trying to be kind to the environment and the air you and others are breathing, rakes are a much better way to take care of your lawn.
Gas leaf blowers pollute the air, are harmful to operators and bystanders, and create high levels of noise. In 2021, Governor Newsom signed into law AB 1346, which bans the sale of gas powered gas leaf blowers and other small off-road engines (SOREs) within California effective January 1, 2024.
Across the U.S., hundreds of cities and counties have passed laws restricting or prohibiting the use of gas-powered leaf blowers. This includes over 20 cities in California, including nearby Berkeley, Oakland, Palo Alto, and Sunnyvale.
Can You Continue Using the Gas-Powered Lawn Mower You Own? Yes, you can. The California Green Lawn Care Law applies only to sales and doesn't limit the use of gas-powered equipment by homeowners or landscaping professionals.
Gas leaf blowers are powerful and work well for large areas and tough tasks, like wet leaves or grass-embedded debris. You can choose handheld or backpack models, which are more comfortable for extended use. Their power makes them popular for big yards or challenging conditions.
Be sure to wear safety goggles to keep these irritants out. Next, wear a face mask. No one wants to inhale the gunk that the leaf blower kicks up, especially those who suffer from allergies. Use a face mask to help reduce particulate inhalation.
Air Pollution - Gasoline powered leaf blowers typically use small two stroke engines which emit many more air pollutants than automobiles including Carbon Monoxide, Non-Methane Hydrocarbons and Oxides of Nitrogen.