Where Can I get away from Blow and Mow Noise & Pollution
Is there any place in the Bay Area that prohibits those loud and smelly power tools that the "blow and mow" guys use, specifically blowers? Someone also mentioned to me that the state will eventually outlaw very loud, polluting power tools. Is this true? I couldn't find any mention during a cursory web search.
Jun 29, 2016
Parent Replies
They annoy the heck out of me too. I work from home and it seems like when the gardener is done with the blower at one house the gardener at another house starts his blower. Cities that have banned gasoline leaf blowers are Berkeley, Sebastopol and Sonoma. In 2011/2011 Oakland, Orinda, Moraga, Lafayette and Walnut creek tried but were unrestful. I doubt the state will ever ban the use of power tools as that would be the end of the construction industry.
I live in the so-called "ritzy" Elmwood and ALL day Thursday is Mow N' Blow day as one landscaper does everyone's yards. Now a REAL landscaper (Leafhopper) does my next door neighbor's yard and all you hear is the old fashioned scratch scratch of a rake and besom. People even in nice neighborhoods are CHEAPO and hire CHEAPO services everywhere. It's a blight
Piedmont. And if you call the police they in force it!
I work for the local Air District. My understanding is that CARB is not currently planning to ban leafblowers. There last major efforts were in 1999/2000. You can read about them here: http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/leafblow/leafblow.htm.
The cities of Berkeley, Los Altos, Menlo Park, Mill Valley, Piedmont, and Palo Alto have some kind of municipal ordinances regarding leaf blowers. In our local experience, it is far easier to get this passed at a city level than regional or state due to opposition groups. You can read about Sunnyvale's attempts in 2015 to get a good understanding of what I mean.