Interactive map of lawn mower and leaf blower policies

Gasoline-powered lawn mowers, leaf blowers, trimmers, chainsaws and other lawn and garden machines are noisy, polluting and putting our health at risk.

In response to growing public concern, local governments, states, utility companies and other entities across the country are adopting policies and programs to address the harmful pollution and noise generated by gas-powered lawn equipment. 

This map shows which places have taken action. Hover over a dot for more information. To filter the map to show only a particular kind of policy, click on that line in the key.

Which places have passed laws on gas lawn equipment?

We found policies and programs to address gas-powered lawn equipment in 26 states plus D.C., in every region of the country. The actions range from restrictions on leaf blower use and bans on the sale of gas-powered equipment to financial incentives for people and businesses to switch to cleaner, quieter electric equipment.

What types of laws and programs have cities and states passed?

Some municipalities or counties have completely banned the use or sale of gas-powered leaf blowers or related machines; others limit the hours, days and/or season of operation of gas equipment. State and local governments have introduced tax credits, rebates and other financial incentives for electric lawn equipment. Many utility companies and electric co-ops across the country are playing a key role by offering rebates to their customers for making the switch to electric and battery-powered lawn tools.

Since the start of 2024, all newly-manufactured lawn equipment sold in the state of California must be zero-emission. In the meantime, states such as Georgia and Texas have taken a step backward by prohibiting their municipalities from restricting or discouraging the use or purchase of certain gas-powered lawn equipment.

Even so, the demand for cleaner, quieter electric lawn equipment appears to be growing as cities such as Dallas and Austin have created incentive programs for electric equipment. At the corporate level, major retailers such as Home Depot and Lowe’s are shifting their inventory towards electric and battery-powered lawn equipment to keep up with demand.

What can cities, states and companies do to cut pollution from gas lawn equipment?

States, municipalities, school districts, utility companies and others who want to take action to address the harmful pollution and noise produced by gas-powered lawn equipment in their communities can follow the lead of other cities and states. Options include:

• Ban the use like Fairfax, CA 
• Ban the sale like Montgomery County, MD and Honolulu, HI
• Focus on leaf blowers, a particularly dirty and irritating type of machine, like Charleston, SC, Miami Beach, FL and Evanston, IL
• Create incentives such as Colorado Regional Air Quality Council’s Mow Down Pollution, Utah Municipal Power Agency’s GreenXchange Program and Nebraska Public Power District’s EnergyWise rebates.
• Find our full list of policy recommendations here.

A note on methodology

While we made our best attempt at an accurate and comprehensive list, it is not exhaustive. For members of the media or the public who would like more details on the policies featured in this map, or would like to see an existing policy or program added to this list, please contact Ellie Kerns. 

Special thanks to Judy Walton of Quiet Clean Alliance for her feedback on this resource. The authors bear the sole responsibility for any errors.