Spring 2025: No season for old leaf blowers

By JEFF MORRIS

Many in town may not realize it, but they are currently living through their first spring without gas-powered leaf blowers.

Of course, whether they notice a lack of noise could depend on how many of their neighbors are aware of the law.

When an amended town noise ordinance was passed in April 2022, it permitted the operation of internal combustion leaf blowers during cleanup seasons, which were defined for 2024 and thereafter as April 15 to 30 and Nov. 7 to 21.

But in July, after further consideration and compromise, the town board voted to amend the ordinance again. This time, the spring cleanup season was eliminated, while the fall season was extended to run from Oct. 26 to Dec. 7. 

“This is the first year that no gas leaf blowers can be used except for six weeks in the fall,” said Fiona Mitchell, a Rooted Solutions coach with Bedford 2030. 

She noted that electric leaf blowers are permitted year round. But, Mitchell noted, “Leaf blower use is not a good horticultural practice. They should be used on hardscapes only. They are very destructive to gardens: they destroy topsoil, and strip soil from tree and shrub roots.”

Town Supervisor Ellen Calves said the only glitch right now may be that many people who were not paying close attention did not realize there was not going to be a spring cleanup, and did not do a thorough cleanup in the fall. Mostly, she said, they are calling to ask about the regulations, and are being encouraged to make the switch to electric — which many already have.

Calves said she had actually called Decker tool rental to see if they are renting electric leaf blowers, so she could suggest that to people, but was told that the price of new electric blowers was low enough that it did not make sense to rent them. She also said the town’s parks crew has been using electric blowers.

Under the ordinance, both the property owner/occupant as well as the owner of the landscaping company operating the leaf blower may be held responsible for any violations and are subject to fines of $250 to $1,000. Violators are required to appear in court. Calves said police are initially making an effort to hand out yellow warning cards informing violators about the regulation.

“I think we’re in the phase of the growing pains of a new regulation,” said Calves. “The more people don’t hear them, the more upset they are when they do. We’ve had far more complaints from people hearing leaf blowers than from people upset that they can’t use them.”

“It’s going to take a little bit of getting used to,” said Calves. “I think once people are used to it, it’s going to be just fine.”

More information is available at www.bedfordny.gov/459/leaf-blower-ban.