Baltimore

Ban status

Phased ban under Council Bill 23-0367 (amending the City Health Code re: gas-powered debris removal equipment). City operations and contractors prohibited from December 15, 2024. Private use permitted only October 15–December 15 in 2025 and 2026 fall windows; full year-round ban begins December 16, 2026. Excludes lawn mowers, trimmers, snow blowers, and pressure washers.

Timeline

• 2025-10-15 Effective date reached — Phase: Private use restricted to Oct 15–Dec 15 window
• 2024-12-15 Effective date reached — Phase: City operations and contracts stop using gas blowers
• 2024-10-14 Vote taken — Baltimore Bans Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers, Citing Pollution Concerns
• 2024-10-14 Vote taken — Baltimore Bans Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers, Citing Pollution Concerns
• 2024-10-07 Adopted — Baltimore City Council vote
• 2024-10 Effective date reached — effective

• Upcoming 2027-01-01 Effective date reached — Full year-round ban takes effect
• Upcoming 2026-12-16 Effective date reached — Full year-round ban begins
• Upcoming 2026-10-15 Effective date reached — Phase: Private use restricted to Oct 15–Dec 15 window (final seasonal year)

Research & citations

• Baltimore Bans Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers, Citing Pollution Concerns
  The Baltimore City Council voted to ban gas-powered leaf blowers, with city contractors required to stop using them by December 15, 2024, residents by 2025, and landscaping companies by 2026. The ban aims to reduce air and noise pollution, as gas blowers emit four times as much air pollution as lawnmowers. Baltimore joins over 100 U.S. cities that have enacted similar bans.
• Everyone hates gas-powered leaf blowers. So why is it so hard to ban them? — Grist — Grist, 2025-11-26
  Kate Yoder surveys the national landscape of gas-powered leaf blower restrictions and the implementation gap behind them: Westport, CT fought for a seasonal restriction and then found local officials weren't enforcing it; in Evanston, IL landscape workers allege harassment from residents reporting violations; Texas and Georgia have preempted local regulation; California's sales ban took effect January 2025, with the Western States Petroleum Association running a Latino-focused campaign against electrification; Colorado offers a 30% rebate on electric equipment; Portland and Baltimore are phasing out use; Wilmette, IL is coordinating with other greater-Chicago towns toward consistent regional policy. Article notes more than 200 local governments now have some form of restriction.
• Baltimore City Council votes to ban gas-powered leaf blowers — The Baltimore Banner, 2024-10-07
• City of Baltimore — Municipal Code (leaf blower / noise) — City of Baltimore
  Codified leaf blower / noise ordinance for City of Baltimore, Maryland. Source: City of Baltimore Code.
• Petition: Ban Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers in Residential Areas (Baltimore) — Change.org
  Baltimore MD pro-ban petition (17 signatures). PTSD-affected resident petition for residential GPLB ban. Active.
• Council Bill 23-0367 — Baltimore City Council Legistar