Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers Prohibited in Residential Neighborhoods

Using a gas-powered leaf blower may be subject to fines in early 2024. Help us educate neighbors and local landscapers.

Convert to Electric or Battery-Powered 

Avoid fines, limit noise and air pollution by converting to an electric-powered leaf blower .

• Be sure that your electric or battery-powered leaf blower has a noise level of 65 decibels or less at 50 feet (generally, the model number will indicate the equipment's noise level).
• Don't forget to make your electric leaf blower or extra battery available to your landscaper for their use.
  
  

Share Information with Neighbors

Forward this webpage or download the flyers below to keep neighbors informed. 

Gas-Powered Leaf Blower Flyer (English)(PDF, 4MB)              Gas-Powered Leaf Blower Flyer (Spanish)(PDF, 4MB)

Request staff to present information at your neighborhood meeting. Use the form below to submit a request.

Please plan ahead, by submitting a request at least 3 weeks in advance of your meeting.

Report Gas-Powered Leaf Blower Usage

If you see – or hear – someone using a gas-powered leaf blower in a residential area, there are a couple ways to report it.

While we recommend education first, residents can submit a report using the Palo Alto 311 app with the day of the week and time of violation or call Code Enforcement at (650) 329-2605. When you report a violation, the City sends an alleged violation warning to the address provided. If a City code enforcement officer can confirm the violation during a follow up inspection, a citation may be issued to property owners. 

Local Resources

• To Contact City of Palo Alto Code Enforcement call (650) 329-2605.
• Palo Alto Municipal Code, Title 9, Section 9.10.060 item (f) Leaf Blowers is the section that contains applicable City code restriction, including hours and days leaf blowers may be used in residential zones (9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, & 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays). Leaf blowers may not be used on Sundays or on holidays in residential areas according to this code.
• Palo Alto Sustainability Plans, Policies, and Ordinances
• Palo Alto Common Code Concerns & Contacts

California Resources

• The California Air Resources Board sets standards for leaf blowers and other landscaping equipment. Subscribe to receive the latest information regarding lawn, garden, and landscaping equipment.
• California Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (CORE) supports landscape professionals operated by a small business or sole proprietor. For a limited time, obtain discounted electric landscaping equipment. Go here to learn more.  
• Small off-road engines (SORE) are spark-ignition engines rated at or below 19 kilowatts. Engines in this category are primarily used for lawn and garden equipment. See the SORE Fact Sheet to learn more about their emissions.
• 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. To make the switch easier, the bill also requires the California Air Resources Board to identify and, to the extent feasible, make available funding for commercial rebates or similar incentive funding.