New Canaan Gas Leaf Blower Ordinance - A message from Planet New Canaan
On April 22, the Town Council of New Canaan will officially vote on the proposed ordinance regarding gas-powered leaf blowers. This is a significant decision that touches on environmental goals, noise ordinances and quality of life in our community.
We want to ensure the Town Council hears from as many constituents as possible before the gavel falls.
Regardless of your position, your input helps create a more balanced and informed local government. Details below on how to communicate your stance.
Let Town Council know your stance: TCDistribution@newcanaanct.org. Please include your address.
Research suggests the following points to consider when evaluating gas leaf blowers:
Gas leaf blowers have engines that produce harmful air pollution. Leaf blower exhaust is toxic and has been linked to cancer, heart disease, asthma and hypertension.
Gas leaf blowers are much noisier than electric, and their low-frequency noise travels farther and passes more easily through walls.
Residents have a right to peaceful enjoyment of their properties without breathing toxic exhaust.
Data points to electric leaf blowers performing at least as well as gas (see Consumer Reports, June 2025/Jan 2026).
The ordinance allows residents to use their leaf blowers for minor tasks.
It is biologically better for lawns to let grass clippings decompose, rather than blow them off.
At least 31 communities in Fairfield and Westchester counties have already restricted leaf blowers, including Stamford, Greenwich, Norwalk, Westport and Pound Ridge.
There has been no evidence of landscaping cost increases in other communities with leaf blower restrictions. Landscapers are already transitioning to electric to respond to restrictions in other communities.
The ordinance only applies to the summer months so does not affect fall and spring cleanups.
Summary of the Ordinance:
Gas-powered leaf blowers:
prohibited from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Electric Leaf Blowers:
From Memorial Day through Labor Day:
permitted Monday through Friday between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm
permitted Saturday and Sunday between 12 an 4 pm
Exceptions: (applies to any powered device used to blow leaves)
Emergency & Safety: Use is allowed for emergency response, storm cleanup (e.g., clearing debris after a high-wind event), and snow removal.
Town Operations: The Department of Public Works (DPW) and public utility companies are generally exempt when clearing debris for essential services.
Limited Residential Use: There is a proposed "narrow exception" for residents to use a blower for a brief time to clear hard surfaces like porches, decks, or driveways.
Responsibility: Generally, the property owner is held responsible for compliance, even if a hired contractor is the one using the equipment.
Fines: Proposals have suggested a tiered fine structure (e.g., written warning for a first offense, $100 fine for second offense, then increasing for subsequent violations), with each day of non-compliance considered a separate offense.
Click HERE to read New Canaan’s Conservation Commission’s Usage Reduction Recommendation.
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