LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, PA \u2014 Lower Merion Township officials Wednesday will weigh a proposed ordinance that would ban the use of certain leaf blowers during the summer months.<\/p>\n
At Wednesday’s board of commissioner meeting, officials will consider adopting the ordinance surrounding gas-powered lead blowers.<\/p>\n
If the ordinance is adopted as it stands now, anyone who uses a gas-powered leaf blower from June 1, 2026, to Oct. 1, 2026 \u2014 as well as from Jan 1. 2026 to April 1, 2026 \u2014 will be issued a citation. <\/p>\n
The seasonal restriction applies to “all persons and entities, including residents, commercial landscapers, contractors, and property maintenance personnel, on all properties within the Township.”<\/p>\n
Then, on Jan. 1, 2028, gas-powered leaf blowers will then be banned from use between Jan. 1 and Oct. 1. And finally, the township will outright ban gas-powered leaf blowers starting Jan. 1, 2029.<\/p>\n
The first citation will be a warning, then subsequent violations of the ordinance will come with fines that increase upon repeated violations. The first fine is $100, then $250 for a second violation with a year of the first fine, and then a $600 fine for a third or any subsequent offense with a 12-month period from the first offense. Violators will also be subject to pay court costs and reasonable attorneys\u2019 fees incurred by the township in the enforcement proceedings.<\/p>\n
It doesn’t end there, however.<\/p>\n
Violators of the ordinance “may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 30 days,” according to township documents.<\/p>\n
The ordinance also covers the use of portable generators used to power electric leaf blowers or to charge their batteries. Starting June 1, 2026, residents will be barred from using portable generator for those purposes.<\/p>\n
Electric-powered leaf blowers will be permitted year-round under the new ordinance, and these restrictions will not be applicable during snowfall and within 24 hours after snow has stopped.<\/p>\n
Similar, township officials can waive any or all of the prohibitions on gas powered leaf blowers in the event of emergency situations \u2014 such as a storm that caused fallen trees, branches or debris \u2014 for a stated period. <\/p>\n
Lastly, the township said starting 30 days after the ordinance goes into effect and for two years after, retail establishments and resale marketplaces that sell gas powered leaf blowers in Lower Merion Township will at all points of sale share conspicuous signage informing customers of the restrictions in the ordinance.<\/p>\n