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San Mateo council directs staff to draft citywide prohibition on gas leaf blowers with 9‑month transition
Summary
The San Mateo City Council on Oct. 6 directed staff to prepare a citywide ordinance to prohibit gas-powered leaf blowers, set a minimum nine‑month transition before enforcement and return with options for hours of operation and penalty assignment.
The San Mateo City Council on Oct. 6 directed staff to prepare an ordinance that would prohibit the use of gas-powered leaf blowers across the city and return with specific language on hours of operation, a recommended enforcement start date and penalty structure.
Andrea Chow, sustainability analyst for the City of San Mateo, told the council that state rules already require new model years of 2024 or later to be electric. "As of 2024, state regulations require that new model years of 2024 or later leaf blower equipment be electric," Chow said, noting the state rule does not cover existing gas machines. Chow said the city has fully transitioned its own equipment to electric using Peninsula Clean Energy grant funds.
The nut of the council's direction: staff should draft a citywide prohibition while returning with options that balance residential and commercial needs, set an enforcement ramp that begins no sooner than nine months…
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