Maplewood Leaf Blower Ban Takes Effect

Maplewood, NJ – You’re asleep in bed in Maplewood when the roar of a leaf blower wakes you from your slumber. What can you do?

For this summer at least, Maplewood residents can call the authorities… as long as the violator is a commercial business.

During its meeting on May 17, the Maplewood Township Committee approved a pilot resolution that will ban leaf blowers in the town from June 1 to August 31.

The municipal resolution will apply only to “commercial lawn maintenance businesses” and violators will be subject to a $100 fine for a first offense, a $200 fine for a second offense and a $500 fine for any subsequent offense.

No mention is made about what agency will enforce the ban.

The full resolution can be seen online here.

Watch a video of the May 17 Maplewood Township Committee meeting below, which features comments in support and in opposition to the ban.

Maplewood isn’t the only New Jersey town to consider or pass a ban on leaf blowers.

When the town’s Essex County neighbor, Montclair, enacted its recent leaf blower ban, several landscapers and leaf blower supporters expressed concern about the effects the law would have on local businesses and their employees.

• See related article: Montclair Remains Divided On Leaf Blower Law

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