Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
The leaf blower is a common power tool that is used for gardening that blows out air from a nozzle to move debris like leaves and so on. As spring approaches and lawns are worked on, it is important to consider the laws that govern the use of leaf blowers in your town or area.
Leaf blowers are quite popular, accessible, and useful tools that provide excellent functionality for maintaining the neatness of your garden, sidewalk, driveway, or patio and cleaning up the dead leaves. They are relatively simple to use and good for keeping your outdoor areas smart looking and clean. Most of these leaf blowers can be very loud, and this is why there are laws to guide leaf blowing.
In some areas, restrictions are placed by the law on the use of leaf blowers. If you reside in an area like this, it is important that you understand the legal restrictions and regulations that surround leaf blowers. Knowing this can help you better your experience with this tool. You definitely do not want to be on the wrong side of the law. However, the law may not be as straightforward to many people and may be difficult to follow. That is why the basics have been explained and simplified in this article, to provide you with all the information you need and give you an idea of where the law stands on leaf blowing and to make sure that you don’t cross the line, even by mistake.
LEAF BLOWERS
Leaf blowers are also known as blowers, and they are one of the most common garden tools. They work in a vertical movement and make use of a powerful machine to suck in air from a side of it and push the air back out at an incredibly high speed with the help of a jet at the tool’s front. The air jet is quite powerful and can be used to blow off dead and fallen leaves to clear up an area or environment pretty quickly and efficiently. The function of these tools is quite similar to that of garden rakes. However, the leaf blower is a power tool and is way faster than a garden rake and will clear up your garden pretty faster than regular tools.
Leaf blowers may come in different styles and sizes, from handheld tools, large-wheeled devices to covering backpack-mounted leaf blowers. Generally, the larger models are more suitable for keeping large areas clean efficiently while, the smaller designs are sufficient enough for use in the home. Although, the larger models are louder to operate and way more expensive, so the law may have different coverage of them.
WHICH PLACES ARE LEAF BLOWERS BANNED
There is no specific national law on leaf blowers or whether you are permitted to use them or not, but different cities and states may place unique restrictions on these tools’ use and operation. The restrictions on leaf blowers are different for different cities or areas, so it is advisable to look up your particular city’s unique restrictions or regulations. However, a few general guidelines can give you an idea of what the law entails.
For example, California is a state with the most restrictions and regulations on the use of leaf blowers. The state has come down hard on people who use leaf blowers for over a few years back. Each city’s law varies, so it is essential that you crosscheck and know the restrictions that apply to your city. Some cities have banned large gas-powered leaf blowers, while some have banned leaf blowers completely. Most of these restrictions can be quite strict.
There are far more restrictions in Californian cities, and California has more cities than any state with restrictions on the use of leaf blowers. However, other states have unique laws in place. Some states like Colorado, New York, Illinois, and Florida have specific regulations and laws. Not minding where you live, it is important to check and be sure of the law’s specifications guiding your city or area on leaf blower’s use.
WHY ARE LEAF BLOWERS RESTRICTED IN SOME AREAS
The major reason for the restriction of leaf blowers is because these tools can be really loud and make a lot of noise. This is most especially relevant for gas-powered blowers because their engines are way too powerful, thereby causing them to make even louder noise. The noise that this power tool produces can be quite annoying and disruptive for people around the area where one of these power tools is being used. Some people may be trying to get some sleep or rest at home, or even binge-watch their favorite shows or sit at their porch and just relax but end up being disrupted by the loud noise of the leaf blower. Many people have complained about the noise, which led to the government’s restrictions in many cities.
A lot of cities have placed restrictions on leaf blowers and the use of it, to reduce and control the level of discordance that it brings. Many gas-powered blowers can produce about 75 decibels of noise from a 50 feet distance, and most cities put up the highest permission of noise of about 60-decibels on power tools especially. This is why most people start to opt for electric leaf blowers instead of gas-powered leaf blowers because electric leaf blowers are less noisy and much more quieter. Yes, they are still pretty loud but not as loud as the gas-powered leaf blowers. Many of these cities permit the use of electric leaf blowers but place a curfew on when they can be used.
Gas-powered leaf blowers are also quite polluting and have a huge effect on air and emissions quality. Studies prove that fumes produced from a regular leaf blower could cause more pollution than the emanation from over ten cars. Constant exposure to the fumes from gas-powered leaf blowers can be poisonous and have a negative effect on your health.
WHO IS THE OWNER OF THE LEAVES
This is another major concern that may cause confusion between leaf blowers and the law. You may be wondering, suppose leaves fall into your lawn from your neighbor’s tree, is it your responsibility to clear them up or your neighbor’s. Assuming your neighbor uses a leaf blower to blow off their debris and leaves into your compound, does the law permit that? We’ll look into what the law says in this article. Yes, the law is not so straightforward and can be quite complicated, but we will try our best to explain to you and understand this system’s basics.
The law is crystal clear in a situation like the one stated above, whereby your leaves from your neighbor’s tree falls into your compound. The thing is, it doesn’t matter if the leaves fell from your neighbor’s tree. As long as it’s now on your property, it’s your problem. The law usually regard leaves as a natural product, and so, it is your job to get rid of the debris or dead leaves that fall from your neighbor’s tree, even when they clog your drains up or make a mess on your lawn. However, moving leaves from one compound to the other is a bit complicated. For example, suppose your neighbor walks up into your property/compound to dump off leaves and debris, which can be considered trespassing on your neighbor’s part. But if your neighbor stands on his/her property and blow dead leaves and debris into your property, this isn’t considered trespassing. This part of the law can be quite complicated and significant to the specific city, town, or state. It is important for you to get more information on this from your municipal codes or local statutes, but no specific law covers this.
Blowing leaves off of your property and onto the streets is a different ball game. When you blow debris and leaves into the street, it will end up clogging the water drains and may cause issues for the area or city. In order to prevent this from happening, many states and cities have put municipal codes in place to cover this area and the act of blowing leaves into the streets. In many cities, leaf blower users are not permitted to blast leaves into the public’s way. It is regarded as illegal dumping in these cities and has great penalties, depending on the area or city. The penalty can be up to a 6-month sentence in prison or a 5000 dollar fine. So you do not want to be caught up in this web.
Another thing you should consider is a matter of basic courtesy and etiquette. It is not right to just blow leaves into your neighbor’s property. Put the relationship you have with your neighbor into consideration because blowing leaves into their property will get them annoyed or angry. If the leaves are already in your compound, then it is your responsibility to take care of them. Aggressively blowing the leaves into your neighbor’s yard isn’t going to promote the relationship you have as neighbors. It’ll only cause problems and unnecessary disagreements. As they say, be your neighbor’s keeper and enjoy a peaceful co-existence.
CONCLUSION
The laws that govern leaf blower users and leaf blowers are significant to the particular state in question. There isn’t a national law that covers leaf blowers and the use of it. Most restrictions on this power tool are specific and depend on where you reside. If you intend to purchase a new leaf blower, it is advisable to get an electric leaf blower other than a gas-powered one. The restrictions on electric leaf blowers are not as strict as that of gas-powered, and some places do not have any restrictions on electric leaf blowers.
Although the laws and restrictions on leaf blower use may seem to be a bit complicated and confusing, it boils down to common sense and basic etiquette and courtesy. If you live in an area with restrictions on leaf blowers, just ensure you do what is right and remain on the right side of the law. Try to be considerate and respect people’s rights.
Is a leaf blower worth the investment‘