A recent news article in USA Today has drawn attention to the increasing number of cities and states enacting bans on gas-powered lawn equipment. Reporter Jonathan Limehouse, in an article published June 1 online, offered a progress report on the growing number of both municipalities and states which have started and continued incentive programs in support of the use of electric lawn equipment, showing a measurable increase in the desire to move away from gas-powered equipment.

Those in favor of bans express concerns about pollution, noise and health risks. They cite a wide range of research which has repeatedly shown that exhaust emissions from gasoline-powered engines can lead to health problems such as respiratory disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurological conditions.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), one hour operating a new gasoline lawn mower emits the same amount of volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxide driving a new car 45 miles. It further finds that gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment emit air pollutants such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.

“From the state of California to the District of Columbia, bans against the sale of gas-powered leaf blowers continue to pile up,” writes Limehouse. “In Washington, D.C., under the Leaf Blower Regulation Amendment Act of 2018, companies or individuals who use gasoline-powered leaf blowers are subject to fines of up to $500 for each offense. In California, lawmakers passed AB1346, which banned the sale of gas-powered leaf blowers and weed whackers by July 1, 2024.”

According to the Public Interest Research Group, Home Depot and Lowe's have also decreased their inventory of gas-powered lawn equipment in favor of other options. The advocacy organization offers an ongoing update tracking activity on which states or cities have either banned or restricted gas-powered leaf blowers and lawn equipment from the advocacy organization at Public Interest Research Group.

The USA Today news update also reported that Dallas, Austin, and Louisville, Kentucky are now offering rebates for purchasing electric lawn equipment at select locations, adding that Indiana, Massachusetts, Nebraska and Wyoming are doing the same. Examples of cities which have taken action toward electric lawn equipment, according to the Public Interest Research Group, follow:

Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif. has banned the use of gas-powered leaf blowers since 1975 and, according to the Los Angeles Times, was the first California city to ban the blowers. In Charleston, S.C., the city has banned gas-powered leaf blowers on municipal property. Lewes, Del., for example, the use of handheld and gasoline-powered landscaping equipment, other than leaf blowers, chainsaws and string trimmers is banned. In 2023, Irvington, N.Y. banned gas-powered leaf blowers. Additionally, the city of Portland and Multnomah County developed an ordinance that would help Portland transition away from gas leaf blowers to electric leaf blowers. This new policy begins Jan. 1, 2026, and the full ban goes into effect in 2028. In Oak Park, Ill., the ban on gas-powered leaf blowers began on June 1, 2025. Also, Ann Arbor, Mich., has reported that gas-powered leaf blowers will be banned by Jan. 1, 2028.

In Colorado, the Colorado Sun reported that a summer-long ban means gas-powered lawn equipment is banned on state property from June 1-Aug. 31 and this applies to all public entities — city, county and federally owned properties, and schools — in the 9 Front Range cities in the EPA’s ozone non-attainment area. The article further reported that this is the first year the state will implement Regulation 29, a statewide air quality rule, adopted in Feb., 2024, that attempts to cut the emissions from small-engined lawn care equipment including mowers, trimmers, blowers, cutters, splitters, pruners and others.

However, there is some backlash in certain states, noted Limehouse, who reported that Texas and Florida prohibit the outright ban on these devices to protect oil and gas industries.

"Transitioning to battery-powered landscaping equipment is a more sustainable alternative that would move us closer to meeting climate action goals and reduce harmful health effects," according to a California group, San Diegans for Sustainable, Equitable & Quiet Equipment in Landscaping.

Industry Membership Group Tracks Progress

For its part, the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) consistently monitors the industry — innovations, initiatives and policies impacting manufacturers and dealers, closely following new technologies, market trends and growth drivers. It reports that OPEI members have for decades manufactured zero-emission equipment as part of a diverse product offering responsive to market demands. Zero-emission equipment is the number-one driver of OPE demand and future industry growth.

OPEI offers this overview on zero emission equipment on its member website: “The outdoor power equipment industry is a leader in the deployment of zero-emission equipment (ZEE), with electric products dating back more than 70 years. Recent advancements in battery technology have accelerated ZEE growth for many product categories. In fact, the majority of handheld products shipped are already ZEE. These trends will continue without legislative action. However, due to the wide range of powered equipment types and use cases, there is currently no one-size-fits-all power-source approach. Codes and bills that propose gas-powered equipment bans and dictate equipment purchase choices ignore technical feasibility challenges, particularly for landscape and construction professionals, as well as rural residents. Supply chain, electrical grid infrastructure, and product recycling also present significant concerns.”

OPEI has also reported the following: In 2021, 63% of all new handheld OPE (e.g. blowers, chainsaws, trimmers), the majority of OPE shipped, was zero-emission equipment; also that year, it found that the industry shipped 38 million products in the United States, of which 56% — 21 million — were zero-emission. It also found that residential powered walk-behind (push) lawn mowers, with U.S. shipments of 5-6 million units annually, have transitioned from 11% ZEE in 2016 to 37% in 2021.

In addition, OPEI shared these facts about outdoor power equipment products:

  1. Zero-emission technology is commonplace in today’s OPE following decades of production and continuous innovation
  2. Zero-emission equipment (ZEE) is forecasted to continue as the dominant driver in industry growth
  3. Many types of OPE have significant service lives and markets for re-use, re-manufacture, and recycling
  4. ZEE is most common in residential applications, and less so for many commercial applications where further advancements are necessary to deliver the performance and run-times needed at costs similar to today’s commercial grade gas-powered equipment

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services offered tips for reducing emissions from lawn and garden equipment, each of which supports the vital role of equipment dealers in continuing to answer customer needs:

  • Switch to Electric Operated Equipment — Electric corded or battery -powered lawn and garden equipment produce no emissions and require no gas or oil to operate, hence no annual maintenance. An added bonus is electric garden equipment is significantly quieter than the gasoline fueled equipment.
  • Purchase Newer Equipment — If you still want to use gasoline powered lawn and garden equipment, purchase new and avoid using older equipment. Phase 3 engines, which reduce air pollution up to 70%, have been included in all small non-road equipment since 2012.
  • Maintain Equipment — Like cars, properly maintained lawn and garden equipment are less likely to pollute and will perform better and last longer. Perform maintenance as recommended in the user’s manual.

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