Portland City Limits Only
Portland City is phasing out the use of gas powered leaf blowers

17.101.040 Requirements.

City Code Section

A. Effective January 1, 2026, no owner may allow the operation of a gasoline leaf blower on the owner’s property from January 1 to September 30, except in cases of inclement weather as determined by the City Administrator.

B. Effective January 1, 2028, no owner may allow the operation of a gasoline leaf blower on the owner’s property.

C. No leaf blower may be operated in a manner that deposits dust and debris onto any neighboring parcel, storm drain, public property, or public street except for the purpose of scheduled debris collection by the City.

Why doesn’t the full ban go into effect until 2028?

At the time the policy was passed,

electric leaf blowers were not powerful enough to handle peak wet leaf season.

This is especially true for large commercial property owners

that rely on leaf blowers to keep walkways clear for safety.

The phased approach gives time for electric leaf blower technology to improve.

Q: What does this mean for Bark Blowers?

This means we have invested in brand new electric leaf blowers and batteries. We will use these new tools when doing bark blowing within the city limits of Portland.

A:

Q: How does the ban affect bark blowing clean up?

As the city acknowledged with it's phased-in approach, electric leaf blowers are not as powerful as gas powered tools. Additionally, the city considered only leaf clean-up not bark clean-up. As you can imagine, it takes even more power to blow heavier bark than to blow leaves. These less powerful tools make it particularly challenging for our crews to achieve our usually high level of clean-up.

A:

Q: What kind of bark clean-up is possible with an electric leaf blower?

With the lack of needed power, bark overspray clean-up will be negatively affected.
Although our crews will try, electric leaf blowers really aren't powerful enough to blow bark products out of gravel or grassy areas. Our crew, as always, will still be able to clear those concrete driveways, stone type pavers or other hardscapes. However, areas where bark is bordered by lawn or gravel will be particularly challenging.
It will not be possible to get the crisp, clean definition our crews once did in these areas.

Established 1985

Portland City Limits Only
Portland City is phasing out the use of gas powered leaf blowers

17.101.040 Requirements.

Q: What does this mean for Bark Blowers?

This means we have invested in brand new electric leaf blowers and batteries. We will use these new tools when doing bark blowing within the city limits of Portland.

A:

Q: How does the ban affect bark blowing clean up?

A:

Q: What kind of bark clean-up is possible with an electric leaf blower?

A:

Our crews will always give every effort to
achieve the best possible clean-up with these less powerful tools.

Established 1985

Portland City Limits Only Portland City is phasing out the use of gas powered leaf blowers

17.101.040 Requirements.

Q: What does this mean for Bark Blowers?

This means we have invested in brand new electric leaf blowers and batteries. We will use these new tools when doing bark blowing within the city limits of Portland.

A:

Q: How does the ban affect bark blowing clean up?

A:

Q: What kind of bark clean-up is possible with an electric leaf blower?

A:

Our crews will always give every effort to achieve the best possible clean-up with these less powerful tools.

Portland City Limits Only
Portland City is phasing out the use of gas powered leaf blowers

Our crews will always give every effort to
achieve the best possible clean-up with these less powerful tools.