Arlington board authorizes advertisement to ban gas‑powered leaf blowers, sets alternate phase‑out options

The Arlington County Board on June 13 voted 5‑0 to authorize advertisement of a proposed ordinance that would ban gas‑powered leaf blowers and gas‑powered leaf vacuums, giving residents and businesses a multi‑year transition period.

Staff presented the proposal as a response to noise, public‑health and air‑quality concerns tied to small two‑stroke engines. Jennifer Fiorretti, assistant county manager for climate policy, told the board the draft ordinance would add definitions to the County Code and make operation of the specified gas‑powered landscape equipment unlawful, with an effective date to follow a 36‑month phase‑out window. “The ordinance would take effect on July 18, 2029, following a 36‑month phase out,” Fiorretti said in the staff presentation.

The county described health risks for operators and neighbors, citing hearing and cardiovascular concerns, and noted the county had already transitioned its own inventory of handheld landscaping equipment to electric models from 2022–2025. Staff summarized a five‑week public engagement that drew nearly 4,000 participants and found broad resident support for a prohibition, while lawn‑care businesses reported concern about upfront costs and operational changes.

Speakers at the hearing split along predictable lines. Advocates and neighborhood groups urged a faster timeline — frequently 12–18 months — arguing that neighboring jurisdictions already have prohibitions and that workers’ and residents’ health are at stake. “An hour's use of a gas‑powered leaf blower creates as much pollution as driving 14 hours from here to Miami,” said Margaret McKelie of Quiet Clean Northern Virginia during public comment, paraphrasing staff materials presented earlier.

Commercial landscape contractors urged a longer transition and programmatic assistance. James Lo Monaco, who described his family firm as a second‑generation Arlington landscaping business, estimated replacing a fleet could cost six‑figures and said battery‑powered blowers could increase crew time on jobs by 20–25 percent in some operations.

Board members discussed enforcement limits of a complaint‑driven system, the need for robust education and targeted incentives for small firms, and local benchmarks from Montgomery County, DC and Alexandria. The chair’s motion authorized advertisement of the public hearing no sooner than the July county board meeting and provided an alternate effective date—allowing the board, in subsequent action, to consider timelines ranging from 18 to 36 months. The request to advertise passed unanimously, 5‑0.

Next steps: the board authorized staff to advertise a public hearing and return with the ordinance language. The hearing would be scheduled following the RTA process; staff said it plans a year‑one update after adoption and suggested options such as recognition programs for early‑transitioning businesses and state tools to differentiate tax treatment of electric landscape equipment for business incentives.

Actions and follow up will include detailed enforcement planning, development of an education and incentive package, and a return to the board with an ordinance for formal vote after the public hearing.