Providence council advances ordinance to phase out gas-powered leaf blowers

Providence City Council voted to pass an ordinance for its first reading that phases out most gas-powered leaf blowers, aiming to reduce noise and air pollution across the city.

Councilor Anabroix, the lead sponsor, told colleagues the measure is intended to “address the noise pollution in our city as well as the carbon emissions and other forms of environmental degradation that come from gas leaf blowers.” She said the draft was revised after meetings with landscaping businesses, advocacy groups and the state Office of Energy Resources to ease the transition for small operators.

The ordinance as revised narrows the definition of prohibited equipment, phases out gas-powered leaf blowers over time, and allows gas machines to be used during a limited fall period when leaves are heaviest. Enforcement will begin with warnings rather than immediate fines, and the ordinance assigns fines to property owners rather than the service businesses. The sponsor said she has worked with the Rhode Island Nursery and Landscape Association (RINLA) and the Office of Energy Resources to make incentives and program criteria easier for small businesses to access.

Opponents on the council said the measure would hurt small landscaping firms and low‑income workers who rely on gas equipment. Councilman Taylor asked, “Where do we stop? We’re gonna have lawn mowers, we’re gonna have chainsaws, weed whackers,” and argued enforcement of current noise rules is inconsistent. He also noted electric equipment and batteries raise costs and practical challenges for contractors who visit multiple properties daily.

Councilman Gonzales and others pushed back that the ordinance advances public‑health and worker‑safety goals, citing research on emissions. “If you think about the toxic emissions of gas‑powered leaf blowers, it’s equivalent to driving a gas‑powered vehicle for 1,100 miles,” Gonzales said, arguing the policy protects workers and residents with respiratory vulnerabilities. Councilman Sanchez noted the ordinance “does not go into effect until 2033,” and described the change as gradual with available lead time and state incentives to reduce costs for businesses.

The council approved the ordinance on a roll call vote for first reading: 8 ayes, 3 nays, 1 abstention, 2 absent. The vote tally and roll call names were recorded in the meeting minutes. The ordinance includes directions to coordinate with state resources and an explicit phased timetable; the text does not specify the exact dates of each phase beyond the sponsor and colleagues’ repeated references to a multi‑year phase‑in and a 2033 implementation milestone.

Supporters and opponents asked council committees and city staff to continue outreach to small businesses about incentives, equipment disposal and battery safety. Several councilors recommended education and battery‑safety programs be included in implementation planning to avoid disposal and fire risks.

Votes and next steps: the ordinance passed first reading and will return for the next required council actions before final adoption. The council record shows the vote as passing that night on a roll call; the ordinance language and enforcement schedule will determine final compliance dates and penalties.