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- 2023-11-20 Report published — California Gas Lawn Care Ban Tests Electric Leaf Blower Appeal
State statutes
In force AB 1346 — Statewide SORE sales ban Enacted: 2021-10-09 Effective: 2024-01-01
The only statewide gas-equipment sales ban in the U.S. AB 1346 (Berman, 2021) directed CARB to prohibit the sale of new small off-road engines (SORE) — leaf blowers, mowers, chainsaws, edgers, trimmers, pressure washers, and portable generators. Effective for engines manufactured on or after January 1, 2024. Enforced at the manufacturer, distributor, and retailer level; does not restrict operation of pre-ban equipment. Farmers and emergency responders exempt. $30M was appropriated for small-business transition. Federal preemption litigation (OPEI 9th Circuit petition) is paused pending Trump EPA review of California's Clean Air Act §209(e) authorization.
Research & citations
- California Gas Lawn Care Ban Tests Electric Leaf Blower Appeal
Bloomberg examines California's statewide ban on gas-powered lawn care equipment, including leaf blowers, and how it is testing the market appeal of electric alternatives. The piece covers the regulatory landscape and real-world impact on landscapers and consumers in the state.
- 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.
- The Movement to 'Make America Rake Again' — Reasons to be Cheerful
— Reasons to be Cheerful, 2024-01-18
Hannah Wallace profiles the national push to ban gas-powered leaf blowers, opening with Quiet Clean PDX co-chair Michael Hall (Portland, OR) and noting more than 100 US cities have enacted bans alongside 45+ Quiet Clean Alliance member groups. Calls Washington D.C.'s 2022 phase-out the "gold standard" — three-year ramp-up, citizen-affidavit enforcement via DLCP, fines up to $500. Surveys California's CARB AB-1346 zero-emission rule (effective Jan 2024) plus the state's $30M CORE voucher program; cites bans in Burlington VT, Evanston IL, Oakland, Beverly Hills, Santa Barbara, and Montgomery County MD; flags rebate/discount programs in Colorado (30% statewide point-of-sale discount, eff. Jan 2024) and Dallas. Quotes Seagraves Landscaping (West Linn, OR — a Lake Oswego Parks contractor) on crews preferring electric blowers. Closes by linking the movement to the Xerces Society's Leave the Leaves campaign.
- AB 1346 — California Legislative Information
- CARB SORE zero-emission regulation (press release)
- CORE voucher program (CALSTART + CARB)
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