Marblehead Summer Gas-Powered Leaf Blower Ban Takes Effect

MARBLEHEAD, MA — More than 14 months after a vote of Marblehead town meeting members first approved a summer ban on gas-powered leaf blowers in the town, the new bylaw went into effect as of Thursday after it was approved by the state Attorney General's Office.

The ban was passed at the 2022 town meeting but lacked enforcement mechanisms. The ban was passed again with enforcement this past May, on the same night a move to repeal the 2022 ban did not receive the support of town meeting members.

The bylaw bans the use of gas-powered leaf blowers from Memorial Day to Labor Day each year. Electric- and battery-powered blowers are still permitted.

A written warning will be issued for the first offense, followed by a $100 fine for a second violation and a $200 fine for each additional violation. Each offense is considered a separate violation.

The property owner is responsible for the fine, though a landscaper will be ordered to stop operation upon notification of a member of the Marblehead Police Department or Marblehead Health Department. Residents may report a violation to these departments but only those "enforcing authorities" can issue a fine or warning.

While the bylaw could not be enforced until the AG's office approved it at the state level, town officials had asked residents in June to voluntarily comply with the impending law until it did so.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)