A man blows snow off a path in a cemetery with a leaf blower. On his back, he carries the battery for the device in a waterproof case. (Photo by Wolfram Steinberg/picture alliance via Getty Images)
The decision was made unanimously by Ann Arbor’s city council on Monday, according to Mlive.com.
The new law, sponsored by council members Jenn Cornell, Dharma Akmon and Jen Eyer was up for debate for weeks.
A man uses a leaf blower to remove autumn leaves from a sidewalk. (Photo by Marcus Brandt/picture alliance via Getty Images)
The new law will fully ban gas blowers starting Jan. 1, 2028, but until then they will be allowed from October through May only.
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A member of the city’s environmental commission said the ban will “benefit workers, neighbors, wildlife and the community overall,” as Ann Arbor, home to the University of Michigan, joins other communities with similar ordinances. Ann Arbor has a population of about 124,000, according to 2020 U.S. Census numbers.
The ban on gas-powered leaf blowers is similar to a bill recently proposed by lawmakers in Washington state, which would land offenders in jail for up to 364 days per instance and carry fines of up to $10,000 if passed.
