Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers Prohibited

Did you know that the use of gasoline-powered leaf blowers is not allowed in the city of Los Altos? Per Municipal Code 6.16.070 (B)15, and 11.15.03, only electric or battery operated powered leaf blowers may be used. If a gasoline-powered leaf blower is found to be in use on a property in Los Altos, the property owner may be subject to an administrative citation. Help us educate neighbors and local landscapers.

Convert to Electric or Battery-Powered blowers

  • Limit noise and air pollution by converting to an electric-powered leaf blower, (and avoid fines).
  • Be sure that your electric or battery-powered leaf blower has a noise level of 65 decibels or less at 50 feet (generally, the model number will indicate the equipment's noise level).
  • Property owners, if you already have an electic or battery powered leaf blower, offer to make it available to your landscaper or have extra battery packs available for them use.

Report Gas-Powered Leaf Blower Usage

While we recommend education first, if you see a gas-powered leaf blower in use in a residential area, please report it. We'll reach out to the property owner to make sure they are aware that gas-powered leaf blowers are not allowed and warn them that failure to comply with the municipal code could result in an administrative citation. 

Residents can submit a report by phone at (650) 947-2775, email at CodeEnforcement@losaltosca.gov, or by filling out an Online Code Violation Complaint form. (If we don't answer the phone, please leave a message as we are often out in the field.) Please leave the address, day of the week, date, and time observed. When you report a potential violation, the City sends a Courtesy Notice to the address provided. If a City Code Enforcement Officer can confirm the violation during a follow up site visit, an administrative citation may be issued to property owners. 

Starting in July 2024, you will no longer be able to purchase gasoline-powered leaf blowers in California. Did you know that the State of California has an incentive program for landscapers/gardeners to purchase electric landscaping equipment at a discounted price? California CORE is here to help offset the cost of purchasing new electric equipment and it’s easy! Visit California Core's website to learn about the program. 

Local Resources
  • To contact Code Enforcement, call (650) 947-2775 or email CodeEnforcement@losaltosca.gov.
  • The use of gasoline powered leaf blowers is not allowed in the City of Los Altos per Municipal Code 6.16.070 (B)15 and 11.15.030.
California Resources
  • The California Air Resources Board sets standards for leaf blowers and other landscaping equipment. Subscribe to receive the latest information regarding lawn, garden, and landscaping equipment.
  • California Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (CORE) supports landscape professionals operated by a small business or sole proprietor. For a limited time, obtain discounted electric landscaping equipment. Go here to learn more.  
  • Small off-road engines (SORE) are spark-ignition engines rated at or below 19 kilowatts. Engines in this category are primarily used for lawn and garden equipment. See the SORE Fact Sheet to learn more about their emissions.
  • California recently passed a law, AB 1346, banning the sale of gas-powered leaf blowers and string trimmers (weed whackers) starting July 1, 2024. The law also establishes emissions reductions for existing gas-powered leaf blowers as of July 1, 2022. To make the switch easier, the bill also requires the California Air Resources Board to identify and, to the extent feasible, make available funding for commercial rebates or similar incentive funding.
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