Noise Relief or Overreach? County Moves Forward with Gas Leaf Blower Ban Effective Today July 1

July 1, 2025 By Justin Linn

Montgomery County is moving forward with a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers, citing strong environmental and public health benefits. While the primary goal of the ban is to reduce disruptive noise for residents and workers, county officials emphasize that the policy also brings major gains in air quality and worker safety.

Gas-powered leaf blowers, especially those using two-stroke engines, emit high levels of pollution. These engines only partially burn their fuel mix of oil and gasoline, releasing harmful emissions into the air. In fact, the emissions from using a gas leaf blower for just one hour are equivalent to driving a car from Washington, D.C., to Miami.

That pollution doesn’t just dissolve, it’s inhaled directly by the workers operating the machines. “These are some of the hardest working folks in our county,” says Mary Travaglini of the Department of Environmental Protection(DEP). “They’re out there year-round keeping our landscapes clean, and we want to keep their health in good shape, too,” she said.

Effect on Local Businesses

Landscaping is a major industry in Montgomery County, with estimates suggesting there are over 2,300 companies employing more than 6,000 workers. Recognizing the importance of the sector, the county’s Department of Environmental Protection has rolled out support programs to help ease the transition to electric equipment.

To help small landscaping businesses adapt, the DEP is offering rebates of up to $1,500 for the purchase of electric leaf blowers. These rebates will be available starting July 1, alongside an array of educational resources available on the county’s website: montgomerycountymd.gov/leafblowers.

The transition won’t be brand new for everyone. Several local landscaping companies have already successfully adopted electric equipment, proving that the shift is both possible and sustainable.

While some landscaping companies have expressed concern about the upfront cost of new equipment and the weight of larger electric batteries, officials maintain that the industry is quickly evolving.

“The price of electric blowers is going down, and performance is going up,” Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich noted. “The risks of exposure to toxic fumes are real. The consequences that somehow a person should suffer with negative health impacts because someone does not want to buy a second backup battery, I am not sure I am sympathetic,” he continued. 

As for concerns about heavy batteries causing back injuries, county officials acknowledge the issue and say they are monitoring implementation closely. There may be room for ongoing evaluation of worker safety and adjustments to support landscapers during the transition.

How to Report Violations, and who is Exempt?

Starting July 1, residents will be able to report violations through a new complaint form on the county’s website. They’ll need to submit a photo or short video of the leaf blower in use. While the county’s longstanding two-party noise complaint law still applies, individuals can now report solo with sufficient evidence.

A Moderately MOCO Tweet about the local media briefing went viral with over 14,000 views which featured a quote from CE Elrich about not taking pictures of peoples faces:

Elrich: “if you’re going to take pictures of someone with an illegal leafblower, don’t take a picture of their face”

— Moderately Moco (@ModeratelyMoco) June 25, 2025

To file a complaint, residents can visit the website or call 311 for more information.

Some confusion has arisen over exemptions, particularly for agricultural producers. The county clarified that only officially registered agricultural producers are exempt, not just anyone working on agriculturally zoned land.

County leaders say they will evaluate the ban’s effectiveness by tracking noise complaints, public feedback, and worker health data. Elrich finished with, “I think if we all see a reduction in the amount of complaints we get from people, that would be a measurable change.” 

Moderately MOCO writer Justin Linn was featured on the media briefing asking about these questions:

---