Gas Blower Phase-Out Starts Jan. 1

[October 31, 2025]

By Stephanie Sandmeyer

On some late October or early November day, in the seemingly far-off time of the fall of 2028, it might go completely unnoticed that the cacophony of gas-powered leaf blowers has disappeared from Hillsdale.

That’s when the nearly decade-long effort to ban the sale and use of gas-powered leaf blowers in Portland will enter its final year of a three-year phase-out, which begins in January 2026.

Gas-powered leaf blowers make big jobs easier but come with environmental and health drawbacks. Their two-stroke engines burn fuel and oil inefficiently, releasing roughly one-third of the fuel as emissions high in nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

In 2024, the Portland City Council unanimously voted to phase out gas leaf blowers to improve public health and the quality of life for landscape workers and residents. Portland City Code Chapter 17.101 Leaf Blowers states, “Effective January 1, 2026, no owner may allow the operation of a gasoline leaf blower on the owner’s property from January 1 to September 30… it is a violation for any owner to fail to comply with this Chapter.” The law provides exception for cases of inclement weather as determined by the City Administrator.

Yes, January is just two short months away. Still, there’s essentially nearly a year before the ban will have any real impact (unless you or your landscape service uses gas leaf blowers in the winter, spring, or summer). According to the city of Portland’s webpage on the ban, gas leaf blowers will be allowed between September 30 and December 31 in 2026 and 2027 during the phase-out period.

More than 100 US cities have banned gas-powered leaf blowers, and over 45 different organizations across the country are part of the Quiet Clean Alliance, from Quiet Clean Philly to Quiet Clean Seattle.

At this time, however, it’s unclear how the ban will actually be enforced once the full ban takes effect, given that no funding has yet been allocated for implementation in Portland.

This was a blow to advocates and proponents of the ban, such as Quiet Clean PDX, who are working with the city to find alternative funding for its enforcement. The team of volunteers at Quiet Clean PDX is deeply dedicated to their cause. Gas leaf blowers are far more than simply a noise nuisance, say opponents, who describe them as an environmental and health hazard, particularly for those who operate them.

According to the California Air Resources Board, a single operator using a gas leaf blower for one hour generates the same smog-forming emissions as one car driving 1,100 miles. These relatively small devices also emit tons (literally) of carbon dioxide, the leading cause of global warming, and also leak formaldehyde and benzene, both of which are known carcinogens.

To find alternatives that comply with the new laws, check out the Solutions page on the Quiet Clean PDX website.