The Alexandria City Council is considering a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers, with a proposed two-year phase-out period for the community. The ordinance amendments will be first read during the May 13 legislative meeting, with a public hearing and final passage scheduled for May 17.
The proposed ban addresses noise pollution and environmental concerns associated with gas-powered leaf blowers. If approved, the ordinance would prohibit using gas-powered leaf blowers and leaf vacuums starting July 1, 2027.
City staff conducted community outreach in March, hosting two hybrid meetings with approximately 85 participants. According to the city, the outreach effort included calls and emails to landscape companies, social media announcements, eNews, website updates, and a dedicated email for feedback.
According to the city, the community response strongly supports a total ban from residents, boards, commissions, and civic organizations. Many residents advocated for an even shorter phase-out period of one year or less, citing concerns about quality of life and excessive use of the equipment.
“Electric leaf blowers are quieter, even at the same decibel levels,” staff note in a presentation, highlighting one of the benefits of transitioning to alternative equipment.
The proposed ordinance includes different implementation timelines. While the community would have until July 1, 2027, to comply with the ban, city government departments would complete their transition a year earlier, by July 1, 2026.
The estimated cost for the city to phase out gas-powered leaf blowers across departments, including Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities, Transportation and Environmental Services, and General Services, is $75,000. This funding was included in the approved FY 2026 Budget.
Staff reached out to 57 landscape businesses to gather feedback on the proposed ban. Of those contacted, 12 provided comments expressing concerns about operational costs, technology limitations, and the upfront costs for transitioning to electric equipment.
“Upfront costs for transition [range from] $3,600 to $100,000+,” according to the feedback from landscape companies. Other concerns included the need for more workers as electric equipment may take longer to complete jobs, and limitations in blowing power and battery life of electric alternatives.
The proposed ban aligns with other regional jurisdictions that have implemented similar restrictions. Washington, DC, enacted a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers effective January 1, 2022. Montgomery County has banned both the sale and use with one and two-year phase-out periods, respectively. The City of Annapolis has implemented a ban on use with a one-year phase-out period, while Takoma Park’s ban on use becomes effective December 30, 2024.
Staff acknowledged in a presentation that “The City recognizes potential financial impacts to businesses and residents. ” To address these concerns, the city plans to develop incentive programs to help with the transition.
The timeline for implementation includes several key dates. Following the May 17 public hearing and potential adoption, the city will develop incentives during the summer of 2025 and present them to the City Council for consideration and approval in the fall of 2025. The city government would complete its phase-out by July 2026, with the final community phase-out and ban taking effect in July 2027.
Currently, lawn and garden equipment in Alexandria is regulated by hours of operation, which would remain unchanged under the proposed ordinance. Power lawn and garden equipment is prohibited before 7 a.m., after 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and before 9 a.m. and after 9 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
The public hearing on May 17 will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. Residents interested in learning more about the proposed ordinance can find additional information on the City Noise webpage, including recordings of the March community meetings.
The ordinance amendments would modify Article Chapter 5 (Noise Control) of Title 11 (Health, Environmental, and Sanitary Regulations) of the City of Alexandria Code, adding definitions for gas-powered leaf blowers and leaf vacuums and explicitly prohibiting their use after the phase-out period.
