Pasadena’s Gas-Powered Leaf Blower Ban Takes Effect Next Month

Beginning April 28, the use of gas-powered leaf blowers will be prohibited in the City of Pasadena. A new state law bans the sale of gas-powered leaf blowers by the start of 2024 to help achieve 100% zero emissions in California from small off-road engines (SOREs) by 2035.

As part of SB 170, $27 million was available to sole proprietors and other small landscaping businesses to assist in the purchase of zero-emission SOREs, including leaf-blowing machines, lawnmowers and string trimmers.

There is currently $17.2 million in funding that remains available.

California Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (CORE) is offering point-of-sale discounts of up to $400 per electric-powered leaf blower for small business and sole-proprietor landscapers. Visit CaliforniaCore.org for more details and a list of participating dealers.

There is also a rebate of up to 75% off the cost of an electric leaf blower offered by South Coast AQMD via their Commercial Lawn and Garden Equipment exchange program (late March/April rollout). The AQMD rebate can be stacked with the CORE voucher.

Pasadena City Council voted to ban the use of gas-powered leaf blowers in March 2022.

The ban also makes it illegal to use a leaf blower to cause debris to travel beyond the property boundaries of the parcel on which it is being used, to adjoining properties or public rights-of-way within the city, and to remain there for more than 15 minutes. Electric-powered leaf blowers may only be used between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday – Friday, and 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturdays. It remains unlawful for leaf blowers to be operated on Sundays and holidays.

As is current practice for leaf blower complaints, Code Compliance will respond as soon as possible and may conduct a follow-up inspection.

Warning notice with a 30-day compliance period will be issued to the landscape business owner/operator. Continued violations will result in issuance of citations.