San Anselmo set to expand gas ban on yard tools

The San Anselmo Town Council has agreed to extend its ban on gas-powered leaf blowers to include all landscape equipment for residents and workers.

Staff is now drafting an ordinance that will prohibit the use of lawn mowers, chainsaws and other yard tools that run on gas. Councilmember Eileen Burke dissented in the 4-1 vote Tuesday.

In a separate action, the council unanimously agreed to establish a new trade-in and rebate program to help ease the burden of transitioning to all-electric tools.

The ordinance and rebate program will be presented to the council for adoption by the end of the year, said Sean Youra, who serves as the climate action coordinator for San Anselmo and Fairfax.

“More and more jurisdictions in Marin and across the state are starting to prohibit the use of gas-powered equipment, starting with leaf blowers,” Youra said. “The next step is to include all other equipment, and so what we’re seeing is that a lot of landscapers are already preparing.”

Youra said there could be exemptions built into the ordinance such as for emergency use, chainsaws longer than 18 inches for large tree work and possibly others.

The council agreed to phase in the enforcement of the law. Those details will be worked out in the proposed ordinance, Youra said.

San Anselmo approved its gas-powered leaf blower ban in September 2021, with the law taking effect Jan. 1. At that time, some council members expressed interest in expanding the prohibition to other yard tools.

Belvedere, Tiburon, Mill Valley, Corte Madera and Larkspur have prohibited gas-powered leaf blowers with some exceptions.

Sausalito’s gas leaf blower ban takes effect this month, and San Rafael’s ban starts Oct. 1. Novato also approved a ban that begins July 1.

Fairfax recently approved a phased-in ban of all gas-powered equipment that will take effect in January for customers and in 2024 for business. San Rafael and Fairfax also approved rebate programs.

San Anselmo has partnered with Jackson’s Hardware in San Rafael to set up a 50% rebate program for San Anselmo customers who trade in their gas-powered leaf blowers for electric alternatives. Customers are instructed to take their used tools to the town corporation yard to claim the rebate.

The town initially invested $5,000 into that rebate program, and about half has been used, Youra said. The town is now proposing to invest up to another $10,000 to expand that rebate program for trade-ins of other gas-powered landscape tools.

Steve Hossfeld, vice president of Jackson’s Hardware, said the rebate program has been successful.

“Most of our customers are curious about electric,” he said. “It’s been a good thing for us so far. The quality brands are making quality product.”

Residents can use the same battery to power trimmers, lawn mowers and other tools made by the same manufacturer, Hossfeld said. “It allows the homeowners and professionals to have a seamless set up.”

In 2021, the California Air Resources Control Board enacted a rule requiring all new manufactured off-road engines such as those used in leaf blowers, lawn mowers and other equipment to be zero emission starting in 2024. Older gas-powered equipment is still legal to use after this date in jurisdictions that do not have bans.

Mayor Alexis Fineman said there is a significant health and environmental benefit from switching to electric.

“An hour of using a gas-powered leaf blower produces enough emissions that it’s basically equal to driving from L.A. to Denver in a 2017 Toyota Camry,” Fineman said, citing data from the air resources control board.

Fineman said the council would like to have the updated rebate program kick in prior to the new prohibition.

“This would provide a runway for residents and workers to get accustomed to the new rules without us taking such a punitive stance,” Fineman said. “Hopefully, other jurisdictions will hop on board.”