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City of Lewes Environmental Protection Ordinance: phased ban on handheld/wheeled gas-powered landscaping equipment within city limits. Phase 1 (effective December 31, 2022): handheld gas equipment OTHER than leaf blowers, chainsaws, and string trimmers prohibited. Phase 2 (effective December 31, 2025): gas leaf blowers, chainsaws, and string trimmers prohibited. Gas-powered lawn mowers remain permanently exempt — no sunset date.
Enacted: 2020-12-14 In effect since: 2025-12-31
Carve-outs:
Other — Gas-powered lawn mowers
Adopted by Mayor and City Council December 14, 2020. Sponsor: Councilperson Rob Morgan; phased-in design championed by Councilperson Andrew Williams (5-year ramp to avoid landfill dumping). Codified in the Lewes Code Environmental Protection chapter (eCode360 ref 37339687). General Lewes penalty-clause structure applies; specific GLB citation data not yet public. Enforced by Lewes Code Enforcement via City Hall complaint pathway. The only Delaware municipality with a binding GLB ordinance. Mower exemption reflects commissioners' concern that battery-mower technology was not yet commercially adequate for Lewes property sizes. No legal challenges in 3+ years.
Last updated: Jun 3, 2026
Timeline
- 2025-12-31 Effective date reached — Phase 2: gas leaf blowers, chainsaws, and string trimmers prohibited
- 2022-12-31 Effective date reached — Phase: Phase 1: handheld gas equipment (other than blowers, chainsaws, trimmers) prohibited
- 2020-12-14 Adopted — Mayor and City Council adopted Environmental Protection Ordinance
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