Palo Alto

Full Year-Round Ban Year-round gas ban

Ban status

Citywide ban on gas-powered leaf blowers in residential neighborhoods. Palo Alto Municipal Code Title 9 §9.10.060(f) prohibits gas-powered leaf blower use; electric and battery-powered blowers permitted within hours: M–F 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sat 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., not Sundays or holidays. Citations enforced as of early 2024 via the Palo Alto 311 app and Code Enforcement (650-329-2605); 1,427 enforcement cases opened in 2024. Long-standing ordinance amended multiple times since the original 2005 adoption.

Enacted: 2000-01-01 In effect since: 2005-01-01

Sources: City of Palo Alto Medium post "Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers Ban Is In Effect" (https://medium.com/paloaltoconnect/gas-powered-leaf-blowers-ban-continues-to-be-in-effect-fines-for-usage-in-early-2024-72012c1d0f4f); californialocal.com explainer placing PA's ordinance in 2005; Mercury News 2025-11-17 documenting 1,427 cases opened in 2024 (replicated in Los Altos via Town Crier 2025-05). Code citation: PAMC Title 9 §9.10.060(f). Verified 2026-05-05.

Last updated: Jun 3, 2026

Research & citations

CA Air Resources Board report (2000) — Palo Alto leaf blower ban — California Air Resources Board, 2000-02-01
States Palo Alto voted to ban fuel-powered leaf blowers citywide as of July 1, 2001.
City of Palo Alto — Municipal Code (leaf blower / noise) — City of Palo Alto
Codified leaf blower / noise ordinance for City of Palo Alto, California. Source: American Legal Publishing.
Leaf Blower Ordinance — City of Palo Alto
Palo Alto, CA — Official Municipal Website
Petition: Stop Illegal Gas Leaf Blowers — Enforce Palo Alto's Leaf Blower Law — Change.org
Enforcement-focused Palo Alto petition (existing ban, not new ban). Resulted in additional code enforcement officer position. Victory.

California context

In force AB 1346 — Statewide SORE sales ban

Enacted 2021-10-09 · Effective 2024-01-01

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