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Providence committee approves ordinance to phase out gas-powered leaf blowers, sets enforcement and transitional rules
Summary
The Providence City Special Committee on Environment Resiliency approved an ordinance to restrict and phase out gas-powered leaf blowers, setting seasonal limits starting in 2027, assigning fines to property owners, and noting state incentive changes to help landscapers transition.
The Providence City Special Committee on Environment Resiliency on Wednesday approved an ordinance to restrict and phase out gas-powered leaf blowers, the committee chair said.
The ordinance, an amendment to Chapter 12 of the Code of Ordinances (Health and Sanitation), narrows the prohibition to leaf blowers powered by internal-combustion engines, carves out seasonal windows for limited use beginning in 2027, shifts fines to property owners rather than operators, and was amended during the meeting to correct an effective date to Jan. 1, 2027.
Councilwoman Sue Vanderbla, chair of the committee, told members the ordinance was developed after public hearings and meetings with landscapers and advocates. "I also wanted to publicly express gratitude to all the advocates who came out to our public hearing that happened this spring," Vanderbla said, and she said the measure attempts…
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