Montclair Changes Its Leaf Blower Law – Again

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Another chapter has been written in the saga of Montclair’s long, contentious history with leaf blowers.

On Tuesday, the Montclair Town Council passed an ordinance that will drastically cut back on the number of days that internal combustion leaf blowers can be used in the township, from 168 to 93. (Read the full ordinance here)

The debate about leaf blowers has been raging since Montclair first placed restrictions on their use in 1994. Some people claim that restricting their use makes for a cleaner environment and less noise pollution. But other argue that it places an unfair burden on private landscaping companies, who may raise their prices to cope with the additional expense of operating in Montclair.

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

Councilman Peter Yacobellis offered some details about the new leaf blower rules in Montclair after Tuesday’s vote. He wrote:

“The new permitted timeframes were determined based on peak abscission time in the autumn and an estimation of when snowmelt concludes, and spring clean-up begins in March. Additionally, as another measure of relief for residents, we’ve pushed back the start time from 8 to 9 a.m. on weekdays, and from 9 to 10 a.m. on Saturdays (Sundays, which already have a start time of 10 a.m., remain untouched). Further, we introduced a new minimum fine of $100 per violation and required lawn care companies to provide safety protection for employees.”

Yacobellis said that during his recent election campaign for town council, “no single issue came up more” than leaf blowers.

“It is my hope that these changes will bring relief from the high-decibel noise and toxic emissions unique to these devices,” Yacobellis said. “Montclairions deserve a quieter and healthier community.”

Yacobellis acknowledged that the new rules will change the way that landscapers do business in Montclair, including their hours, methods and in some cases, their cost of operation. But that expense shouldn’t be passed on to local customers, he added.

“I urge companies and customers to engage in dialogue regarding alternative service options to minimize cost pass-through to customers,” Yacobellis said.

Watch the video of Tuesday’s meeting below.

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