New Leaf Blower Ordinance

By Andrew Kapp

After a second reading on July 15th, which received a unanimous vote, the Millburn Township Committee instituted a seasonal ban on gas-powered leaf blowers. The new ordinance restricts residential and commercial use of gas-powered leaf blowers, citing health hazards from harmful emissions and particulates, which are linked to Alzheimer’s disease, asthma, other respiratory illnesses, cancer, cardiovascular disease, as well as hearing loss from noise. Quality-of-life concerns and environmental sustainability were also important motivations for the adoption of the ordinance. The new regulations go into effect  January 1, 2026, and prohibit the use of the gas-powered leaf blowers during the winter (January 1 to March 15) and summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day) months. 

Within the permitted periods, the ordinance also limits usage from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekends, and from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on golf courses. However, exceptions will be granted to township employees during the months of October, November, and December to allow for curbside leaf collection. 

Noted as a sufficient substitute, commercial-grade battery-powered and corded electric blowers were endorsed by the Committee, who announced a new commitment to the proliferation of their accessibility through the support of local, county, and state-level legislation and financial assistance programs. The Township also wished to promote the creation of a landscape registry with the purpose of providing both educational information and reminders of the permissible dates. 

The new proposal also includes guidelines for enforcement and penalties. To carry out this new chapter, Township law enforcement, code enforcement, and any other officials with jurisdiction are granted jurisdiction over its matters. As an incentive, violations may face escalating fines scaled through the first four offenses and beyond. In the first winter cycle of enforcement (January 1 to March 15), the first-time offenders will be met with a warning and informed about the prohibition. The second offense carries a penalty of up to $250, $500 on the third, $1,000 on the fourth, and $2,000 for each offense thereafter. 

But Millburn Short Hills is not the first municipality to introduce similar policy changes; nearby towns like Maplewood have passed similar ordinances. Going into effect back in January 2023, Ordinance 3057-22 follows a similar structure, with seasonal and time restrictions for gas-powered blowers. It encompasses a 6-year partial ban, which includes an educational effort that followed prior scientific data, which revealed negative hazards on public health and air quality. 

The ensuing debate around the impacts on residents has taken two sides: the former being in accordance on account of the noise, smells, and emissions, while the latter is against due to the potential costs and extra time consumption. During the hearing in July, residents like Tammy Wong, who voiced support on account of the studies on the health consequences of using a gas-powered leaf blower, Bill Brazen, who cited the health and well-being of landscape laborers, and Debbie Frank, who commented on the noise, all voiced their support for the ordinance. Additionally, resident Daniel Jacobs, who remarked on the quality of life issues from gas-powered leaf blowers, and a member of the Advocates for Transforming Landscaping group from Westfield, both believed that the ordinance was a good compromise from a full ban, and were both in favor. Conversely, Michael Todd, landscaper and owner of a family-owned business that has operated since the 1920s, who advised on the potential financial harms to small businesses and on the ability to charge the batteries for electric blowers when they are needed, and Christine Best, resident, who commented on the extent of research and tests beforehand, both negated the ordinance. 

Awaiting its first cycle of implementation this upcoming January, Ordinance 2707-25 is on the horizon. While debate is sure to continue as the ordinance takes effect, the Committee’s unanimous vote underscores a commitment to addressing quality-of-life concerns and promoting sustainable landscaping practices. By joining neighboring towns in pursuing similar measures, Millburn joins a regional effort to reduce emissions and noise, while also navigating the practical challenges of implementation. How residents and landscapers adapt in the coming years will determine whether this ordinance serves as a model for other municipalities across New Jersey.