Gas-Powered Leaf Blower Information

• Noise: Gas-powered leaf blowers can operate as loud as 115 decibels, which is comparable to a car horn or listening to your headphones at maximum volume. Reduced noise levels in the County lessen health impacts that contribute to hearing loss and disruption to wildlife.
  
  
• Health: Gas-powered leaf blowers use a two-stroke engine, where oil and gas are mixed, emitting a significant number of harmful pollutants into the air. Exposure to these pollutants can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, and respiratory disease.
  
  
• Emissions: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that gasoline-powered landscape maintenance equipment, including leaf blowers, accounts for a major portion of nonroad gasoline emissions. Operating a gas-powered leaf blower for one hour produces certain emissions similar to driving from DC to Miami in a 2016 Toyota Camry.
  
  
• Environmental contamination: Spills are common when refueling gas-powered leaf blowers. Fuel spills seep into the soil and can enter groundwater and waterways.

• The County is considering a year-round prohibition of the use of gas-powered handheld, backpack, and walk-behind leaf removal equipment. This prohibition would apply to private, Arlington Public Schools, and Arlington County Government properties.
  
  
• The private use of “motorized leaf-blowing devices” is currently regulated in County Code Chapter 15 (Noise Control). Under the current ordinance, use of motorized leaf-blowing devices or leaf-blowers is restricted in any “R” Residential zoning district during the nighttime. An amendment to this ordinance is required to prohibit the use of gas-powered leaf blowers. 
  
  
• The County is considering a phase-out period of up to three years for equipment covered by the new rules. A phase-out temporarily permits the use of gas-powered leaf blowers to provide time for residents and businesses to adjust to the new regulation before enforcement begins.

• Operations: Switching to electric-powered leaf blowers may require adjustments in workflow and practices for both individuals and businesses. Some electric models have shorter run times due to battery limitations, which could necessitate more frequent recharging or the purchase of additional batteries. Additionally, electric-powered leaf blowers may require changes in how the blower is used to maximize run-time.
  
  
• Financial Cost: The transition from gas-powered to electric-powered leaf blowers will require upfront costs for equipment and battery systems, which can create financial strain for both small businesses and homeowners. The long-term financial picture does show potential savings. Electric-powered leaf blowers eliminate fuel costs. Electric models also require less maintenance, as they have fewer moving parts and don’t need oil changes, spark plug replacements or air filter maintenance.  
  
  
• Lawn Care Supply: There are limited lawn care professionals equipped with electric-powered leaf blowers, which would present a challenge for property owners seeking lawn care services should the prohibition be enacted.  While lawn care companies in the region have started making the shift to align with local regulations (the District of Columbia and Montgomery County, MD, already have year-round gas-powered leaf blower prohibitions), there is likely a small number of service providers who can offer electric-powered services to Arlington property owners in the short-term.  Some localities have provided at least a one-year transition period to give property owners and lawn care providers time to adjust to the change. 
  
  
• Battery Manufacturing and Safety: Like the production of fossil fuels, the production of batteries for electric-powered leaf blowers raises environmental and ethical concerns. The extraction of raw materials like the lithium used in batteries can have significant environmental impacts, including habitat destruction and water pollution. However, unlike fossil fuels, battery components may be reused and recycled when they are at the end of their useful life.
  
  Additionally, lithium-ion batteries, which are commonly used in electric leaf blowers, can pose risks of overheating, fires, or explosions. Proper certification, handling, storage, and maintenance can address these risks, but is reliant on proper human behavior.  Furthermore, the improper disposal and recycling of batteries at the end of their lifecycle can lead to environmental harm. Arlington County offers places to recycle hazardous materials including lithium-ion batteries.

• Sustainable Landscapes: The shift to electric-powered leaf blowers supports sustainable landscaping practices by enabling gentler management of fallen leaves, which benefit soil health and local ecosystems. The variable speeds offered by electric blowers allow for more precise use and the ability to redistribute leaves across garden beds and under trees where they decompose naturally to create nutrient-rich organic matter that feeds the soil. This approach may reduce or minimize the need for synthetic fertilizers while providing essential habitat for beneficial insects, ground-dwelling wildlife, and microorganisms that form the foundation of healthy ecosystems. 

• Members of the Arlington community have expressed concerns about the excessive noise created by gas-powered leaf blowers, as well as the safety risk to operators and disruption to neighborhoods and wildlife. Community members have also shared concerns about the impact that exhaust from gas-powered leaf blowers has on people and the environment.

• Communities nationwide and in the region, including the City of Alexandria, the District of Columbia, and Montgomery County, have amended their noise ordinances to prohibit the use of gas-powered leaf blowers.

• Prohibiting gas-powered leaf blowers aligns with the County Climate Action Resolution and environmental goals outlined in the County’s Forestry and Natural Resources Plan and Community Energy Plan. These goals promote the reduction of negative impacts to the community, natural areas, and wildlife.

• In 2019, the County Board adopted the Community Energy Plan (CEP), which prioritizes strategies that support the County goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.

• In 2023, the County Board adopted the Forestry and Natural Resources Plan (FNRP), which calls for increasing the use of electric equipment and replacing County-owned small gas-powered equipment by 2025.
  
  
• In 2025, the County successfully transitioned its inventory of gas-powered handheld landscape equipment (e.g., leaf-blowers, string trimmers, weed eaters, chainsaws) used for non-emergency operations to electric-powered equipment.

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