Jonathan Birch, assistant village manager and neighborhood services director, told the Village Board on May 20 that Oak Park will implement the final phase of a phased ban on gas-powered leaf blowers beginning June 1.

Birch said the village adopted the phased approach in spring 2023 and allowed limited use in fall, winter and spring during the transition. He said that after two summers of primarily educational outreach — in 2023 no tickets were issued and in 2024 only two tickets were issued late in the season — the village plans stricter enforcement this summer, using a dedicated code inspector to respond to complaints.

The nut of the update: enforcement will prioritize education but shift to routine ticketing once the ban is in effect, and the village is expanding direct outreach to landscapers, property owners and residents. "Our code enforcement staff have found other firms as they’ve been out and about in the community that have made the switch but have not registered with the village yet. So we are working with them to get them registered," Birch told the board.

Staff described the contractor registration requirement the village maintains for landscaping firms and said the ordinance is written to allow enforcement against both a landscaping firm and the property owner when a gas-powered blower is used on private property. "Initially, we want to make sure that both parties are aware and have been notified and that then we're following up with tickets," Birch said.

Board members pressed staff on registration numbers and enforcement mechanics. Birch said 17 landscaping firms were registered with the village at the time of the presentation and noted code staff had found additional firms in the field that have already switched to electric but had not yet registered. He said the village offered a temporary waiver of the $50 registration fee to encourage sign-ups through June 1.

To help the transition, the village described outreach partnerships with the two Ace Hardware stores in town: during May the stores will give a $20 gift card with the purchase of a new electric leaf blower, and the village and Ace will host a May 31 buyback event for both residents and registered landscapers. As presented to the board, the buyback was described as providing a $50 payment to residents who trade in an old gas-powered blower (in addition to the $20 purchase gift card) and $100 to a landscaper who trades in equipment at that event.

Trustee Tracy Wesley pressed staff on enforcement equity and community impact, saying homeowners should receive the same enforcement as contractors so that property owners share responsibility. "The person who is paying them to be here needs to feel that consequence as well," Wesley said.

Birch said staff expect more calls and complaints once the ban takes effect and plan to dedicate an inspector and use both code enforcement and public works staff to increase responsiveness. The village also said it will continue public education via mailed materials, e‑blasts, farmer's market outreach and one-on-one engagement with firms and residents.

Ending: Staff said they will monitor how outreach and the buyback perform and will return to the board if additional programs or adjustments are needed.