Title
title
Upcoming Gas-Powered Leaf Blower Ordinance Transition
..end
Introduction
overview
Neighborhood Services will present on the implementation of the Village’s gas-powered leaf blower ban.
end
body
Recommended Action
No action requested. This is an informational item.
Prior Board Action
ORD 23-19: An ordinance amending Chapter 8 (“Business Licensing”) by adding a new Article 41 (“Lawn Maintenance/Landscaping”) and amending Chapter 7 (“Buildings”), Article 0 (“Contractor Registration”), Section 7-0-1 (“Contractor Registration”) and Chapter 17 “Offenses”), Article 1 (“Identification of Specific Offenses”), Section 17-1-30 (“Noise”) of the Oak Park Village Code.
Background
The Village Board adopted a phased ban on gas-powered leaf blowers in spring 2023 to reduce the environmental impacts of harmful emissions. Under that ordinance, the Village did not permit the operation of gas-powered leaf blowers from June 1 to September 30 in 2023 and 2024. Beginning June 1, 2025, a full ban would go into place.
These bans apply to all of the following groups.
• Property owners using gas-powered leaf blowers.
• Business owners using gas-powered leaf blowers.
• Landscapers using gas-powered leaf blowers.
• Property owners who hired and permitted landscapers to use the gas-powered leaf blower on their yards.
In 2023 and 2024, staff focused on education and engagement to allow the community time to adjust to the new regulation. This included annual focus groups with landscapers, and frequent, direct engagement with landscapers and property owners using gas-powered leaf blowers between June 1 and September 30. Enforcement staff only issued warnings in 2023 and only issued two tickets in 2024.
With the full ban going into effect June 1, 2025, staff are focusing on resident and landscaper engagement throughout May. This includes:
• Conducting a landscaper survey.
• Holding a landscaper open house.
• Tabling at the Oak Park Farmers Market and Civic Engagement Festival.
• Material in the OPFYI.
• Direct engagement with landscapers by Neighborhood Services and Public Works staff when in the field.
Beginning June 1, staff will focus on strict enforcement of the ban. This will include issuing tickets to those found in violation and the limited use of warnings. The Code Compliance team will dedicate an inspector to respond to complaints in June and July. Residents can support enforcement by sending emails to propertyissues@oak-park.us <mailto:propertyissues@oak-park.us> with the address where they observed use of the gas-powered leaf blower and the name of the firm using the blower (if applicable).
Timing Considerations
The full ban on gas-powered leaf blowers in Oak Park begins June 1, 2025.
Budget Impact
There is no budget impact associated with this item.
Staffing Impact
This item aligns with the department’s core service delivery and supports the Village Board’s goal to decrease community-wide greenhouse gas emissions.
DEI Impact
Staff is actively disseminating bilingual education materials to reinforce ordinance awareness. Multi-lingual Oak Park Code Compliance team members are dispatched to interact with landscapers and residents as needed. This supports DEI by ensuring that all stakeholders understand the regulation and its implications.
Community Input
As noted above, staff have been actively engaging impacted parties since 2023, including intensively during May 2025.
Staff Recommendation
No action requested. This is an informational item.
Alternatives
No action requested. This is an informational item.
Anticipated Future Actions
There are no anticipated future Board actions in relation to this item.
Prepared By: Tina R. Brown, Neighborhood Code Compliance Manager
Reviewed By: Jonathan Burch, Assistant Village Manager/Neighborhood Services Director
Approved By: Kevin J. Jackson, Village Manager
Attachment(s):
1. PowerPoint Presentation