Encinitas Leaf Blower Ordinance Takes Effect For Businesses Dec. 20

From the City of Encinitas:

10/21/2019

Encinitas, CA – On August 21, 2019, the Encinitas City Council voted to approve the passage of a comprehensive Leaf Blower Ordinance. The ordinance took effect for City operations on September 20, 2019.

All commercial operators (defined as “…any person who, for compensation or hire, engages in providing services or products…”) will have three months to comply from the effective date or by December 20, 2019.

The ordinance becomes operative for any person defined as “…any person, business, corporation, or event organizer or promoter; public, nonprofit or private entity, agency or institution; or partnership, association or other organization or group, however organized…” four months from the effective date or by January 20, 2020.

Highlights of the new ordinance includes:

• Prohibits the use of all gas-powered leaf blowers citywide by January 20, 2020;
• Allows for the use of electric or battery-powered leaf blowers;
• Requires responsible use of blower equipment to control dust and noise;
• Effective immediately, leaf blowers of all types may only be used between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and between 12 noon and 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Along with the adoption of the ordinance, the City Council also approved a new City-funded rebate program designed to partially subsidize residents and business owners for the cost of purchasing a new electric or battery-powered leaf blower.

The goal of the City’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 41% by 2030. It is estimated that the Leaf Blower Ordinance will reduce local GHG emissions by 128 metric tons of CO2 emissions (MTCO2E) by the end of 2020, and 142 MTCO2E by 2030.

A copy of the ordinance along with key details about the ordinance and the electric or battery-powered leaf blower rebate program has been posted on the City’s Leaf Blower Ordinance webpage.

This press release was produced by the City of Encinitas. The views expressed here are the author’s own.