Since 1997, the city has enforced an ordinance that regulates the use of leaf blowers to minimize noise and air pollution in the city’s residentially zoned neighborhoods and in areas bordering residentially zoned neighborhoods. However, since that time, increased complaints from the community, environmental concerns over the use of leaf blowers and multiple communities within the State of California revising ordinances to further limit the use of leaf blowers has prompted the City to consider revising its ordinance.

In 2011, a study session was held by the City Council to review the current ordinance, the number of complaints received since 2010 in addition to a summary of other city leaf blower ordinances in the San Francisco Bay Area and throughout the State. The Council voted to delay discussion of any further changes to the current ordinance for one year.

Most recently, at the 2012 City Council Planning Session held on February 15, 2012 (view study session report), the members of the City Council directed City staff to work with interested stakeholders to make recommendations on revising the current leaf blower ordinance, with a focus on reducing noise, CO2 emissions, and air pollution.

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