July 28, 2025 update:

The Transportation and Environment Committee of the County Council voted 2-1 to reject the proposed 3 month gas blower exemption. The committee discussed ways the ban could be enforced, and expects to pick up this issue after the August break.

——————

July 20, 2025 update:

Kit Gage and Vivian Thomson of the FOSC Advocacy Committee sent supplementary comments, which you can see in full on the Letters and Testimony page. It is partially shown below. You may reference any part of them in your own communications to the Council. The Sierra Club petition to the Council is open for signature as well.

Summary: The quantifiable and unquantifiable health and environmental costs imposed by gasoline-powered equipment justify the expense of new, battery-powered equipment. Gutting the ban flies in the face of decisions that other, nearby localities are making. The trade journal Lawn and Landscape praises investing in battery-powered lawn equipment as a smart financial decision for companies.

Nearby local governments continue to adopt bans on gasoline powered leaf blowers, because of the risks to workers and to the public at large.

In Maryland, Annapolis and Baltimore City have adopted bans.

In May 2025, the City of Alexandria, VA, adopted a use ban on gasoline powered leaf blowers. Until recently, Virginia’s status as a Dillon’s Rule state meant that localities were stymied in adopting local bans. But in August 2024, the state’s Attorney General advised the City of Alexandria that the City’s noise ordinance allowed for a use ban. Given the nature of the opinion, other Virginia localities are likely to follow suit.

Battery powered leaf blowers create less noise than gasoline powered blowers.

In a 7 May 2025 memorandum to the Mayor and City Council of Alexandria, VA, City staff cited a study comparing noise levels of battery powered and gasoline powered leaf blowers:

“The study found that gas leaf blowers have significantly more noise impact, even when the decibel levels are the same as an electric leaf blower. This is due to characteristics of the deep rumbling noise emitted by gas engines. Such low frequency noise travels farther and can penetrate homes. This results in noise that cannot be easily mitigated. Read more

——————

July 16, 2025 from the Advocacy Committee:

Yesterday, July 15, at a Montgomery County Council meeting there was a hearing on Expedited Bill 19-25, initiated by Councilmember Albornoz, called Noise Control – Leaf Removal Equipment – Seasonal Exemption.

Several of us from FOSC testified today and we urge you to send your concerns to Council at this link. Use your own words, but see some of our concerns below. Please do this today – time is short to comment. The County Council will take comments until next Monday, July 21.

Councilmember Albornoz’ amendment would allow the use of gas blowers from every year from October through December (the rest of the year only electric leaf blowers), at the behest of landscape contractors, a number of whom vociferously objected to the law that has just fully gone into effect July 1, 2025, 2 years after initial passage. They said it was expensive (though the county offered rebates at 2 price levels), heavier weight than gas blowers, less effective on wet leaves, and that the batteries are a pain to charge and you need lots of them. None of these arguments are new but they exaggerate many of the issues.

We argue that there are key reasons this law should go forward without the seasonal exemption:

1. From a NOISE perspective: The people most affected by this bill are the workers. They inevitably will suffer hearing loss. These workers often are the most vulnerable in our community – new to the country, English as a second language, and not aware they can ask for hearing protection. But needless to say, neighbors working, sleeping, playing, walking are disturbed and disrupted in their activities by these blowers. Electric is much quieter.

2. From an ENVIRONMENTAL and CLIMATE perspective: We should particularly oppose dirty, noisy, polluting, inefficient internal combustion gas blowers which kick up more particulates – poop, etc. which workers and neighbors inhale. Using electric blowers, rakes, and leaving the leaves where possible are much better solutions. ‘Just’ allowing a 3 month exemption is allowing gas blower use for the heaviest use time of the year.

3. Per the July 2025 issue of Lawn and Landscape, electric leaf blowers are lighter than gas powered blowers. As one landscaper testified yesterday, “you should try carrying a gasoline powered backpack around for 10 hours and see how you feel.” He opposes the bill.

4. According to a 2023 Consumer Reports analysis of leaf blowers, “the best electric models earn a sweeping score of 5.2, identical to what we’ve found from the best gas models.”

Thanks all.

Kit Gage, Advocacy Director
Elaine Lamirande, President