Current City of Los Angeles law, LAMC section 112.04(c), bans the use of gas powered blowers within 500 feet of a residential property. However, since becoming law in 1998, the City has not had ample resources to effectively enforce the ban. After receiving numerous complaints from constituents, my office introduced legislation in January of 2024 that seeks to redress this issue.
Our motion asks the Bureau of Street Services to put together a report on the Department’s current enforcement mechanisms and processes, enforcement challenges, additional staffing or other resources needed to improve enforcement, and strategies to provide a more timely and efficient response to gas-powered leaf blower complaints, as well as potential amendments to Municipal Code including considering naming a City department other than the Los Angeles Police Department as the department primarily responsible for enforcing the ordinance.
Additionally, our motion asks BSS to develop an educational program on the environmental impacts of gas-powered leaf blowers, current regulations, and programs that provide rebates for the purchase of electric blowers or other trade-in programs. Finally, the motion seeks to ensure that low-wage landscaping workers are not penalized through this work.
Given that it has been nearly 25 years since the original ordinance was enacted, it is time to reconsider the City’s approach to enforcing the ordinance and penalizing the use of these devices with the aim of ending the use of gas-powered leaf blowers in Los Angeles.
Still own a gas leaf blower? Turn it in for a rebate!
If you currently own a gas leaf blower and would like to get rid of it, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) operates an exchange program that will provide a rebate of $250 for the purchase of an electric leaf blower as long as a gas-powered one is turned in to AQMD by a qualified gardening or landscaping business, church, or non-profit organization, as well as a similar program for residential lawn and gardening equipment.
For more information on this and other available rebate programs, click HERE!