City of Portland to consider banning gas-powered leaf blowers

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Portland City Council will consider a new ordinance on March 6 that would ban the use of gas-powered leaf blowers by 2026.

If passed, the proposed ordinance would outlaw the private and commercial use of all gas-powered leaf blowers in the city. However, gas-powered blowers would still be permitted during the fall and early winter through 2028, as the latest electric leaf blower technology remains inadequate for removing wet leaves.

“Beginning January 1, 2026, the proposed ordinance would prohibit property owners from using, or hiring contractors that use, [gas-powered leaf blowers] between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30 each year,” the city council agenda item reads. “Although electric lawn equipment technology is rapidly advancing, the city recognizes that electric leaf blowers are not yet powerful enough to practically move wet leaves during the winter season.”

The city’s reasons for the proposed ban include air and noise pollution, health concerns and disproportionate impacts on specific groups.

“Gasoline leaf blowers most commonly have two-stroke engines that incompletely combust their fuel, resulting in the emission of benzene and additional carcinogenic substances,” the ordinance proposal states. “The use of gasoline leaf blowers can cause direct harm to people within the vicinity by contributing to localized air pollution, creating excessive noise and causing other negative health impacts to their operators who disproportionately identify as Latinx or Hispanic.”

Citizens found in violation of the ordinance would face a series of penalties for each offense. First-time offenders would receive a warning for the offense. A second fine would result in a $250 fine. A third offense would rise to $500, and a fourth offense cost $1,000.