The Alexandria City Council has taken the first legislative step toward banning gas-powered leaf blowers, citing significant environmental and noise concerns. On Tuesday, the council voted 5-1 on the First Reading of an ordinance that would prohibit the use of gas-powered leaf blowers throughout the city.
The proposed ban includes an 18-month phase-out period for the community, while city government departments would transition away from gas-powered equipment within one year.
“Running a gas-powered leaf blower for one hour is comparable to driving from DC to Miami in a new car,” Jesse Maines, Stormwater Management division chief with Transportation Environmental Services, told council members during his presentation.
This striking comparison helped convince council members to shorten the initially proposed two-year phase-out period to 18 months. Councilwoman Jacinta Greene offered the amendment, which was accepted by Councilman John Chapman, who made the original motion.
The ordinance will now move to a public hearing and final vote scheduled for Saturday, May 17.
Maines explained that the ban addresses two primary concerns: “The unnecessary noise that is caused by gas-powered leaf blowers and the environmental effects or the emissions from the gas-powered leaf blowers.”
Studies cited by city staff indicate that electric leaf blowers are significantly quieter than gas-powered models. Even at similar decibel levels, gas-powered equipment produces lower-frequency noise that carries farther and can penetrate homes more easily.
Environmental impacts are equally concerning. Gas-powered leaf blowers emit volatile organic compounds and smog-forming pollution. The equipment also releases nitrogen that eventually contributes to pollution in the Chesapeake Bay.
“Bad air quality turns into bad stormwater quality, which turns into bad water quality in the Chesapeake Bay,” Maines said.
City staff conducted extensive outreach before bringing the proposal to the council. Two hybrid community meetings were held in March, attracting approximately 85 participants. Staff also contacted all 57 landscape businesses licensed to operate in Alexandria.
Community feedback showed strong support for a total ban, with many residents, boards, commissions, and civic organizations advocating for an even shorter phase-out period of one year or less.
Of the landscape businesses contacted, 12 provided comments expressing concerns about operational costs, technology limitations, and the financial burden of transitioning to electric equipment. Estimated transition costs ranged from $3,600 for small companies with fewer than five employees to $100,000 for larger operations with more than 15 employees.
Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley suggested the city explore ways to help businesses with the transition.
“Might this city be able to do purchasing at a scale that would lower the cost that we can then sell?” Bagley asked. “If there’s a purchasing model that allows us to facilitate for Alexandria registered businesses, reduced price, if we’re able to leverage our purchasing power somehow.”
City Attorney Cheran Ivery responded that staff would “look into the ideas that we’re fleshing out” regarding potential incentive programs and provide guidance on legal options.
The council’s action follows an August 2024 opinion from Virginia’s Attorney General confirming that Alexandria has the authority to ban leaf blowers under Section 2.04 of the City Charter.
Several neighboring jurisdictions have already implemented similar bans. Washington, D.C., banned gas-powered leaf blowers effective January 2022 after a four-year phase-out period. Montgomery County’s ban on sales takes effect July 1, 2024, with a ban on use following on July 1, 2025. The City of Annapolis implemented a ban with a one-year phase-out period.
The proposed ordinance would not change the current hours of operation for other power lawn and garden equipment, which remain regulated by the city’s noise code.
If approved on Saturday, the ban would take effect for city government operations on July 1, 2026, and for the entire community on January 1, 2027, reflecting the 18-month phase-out period.
The city has budgeted $75,000 in the approved FY 2026 budget to fund the transition away from gas-powered equipment for city departments, including Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities, Transportation and Environmental Services, and General Services.
Councilman Canek Aguirre, who favored a twenty-four-month transition period and voted against the amended resolution, suggested the city maintain a variety of electric leaf blower models in its inventory.
“I don’t want us to just go out and just get one model,” Aguirre said. “Because the technology is changing so quickly and if there’s supply issues, maintenance issues, maybe we see one is working better than the other.”
Councilman Kirk McPike was not present for the meeting.
The ordinance is scheduled for public hearing and final passage at the City Council meeting on Saturday, May 17.
