Seattle’s Gas Leaf Blower Ban: What It Means for Homeowners and Landscapers
Seattle is making noise—by putting a stop to it. In 2022, the Seattle City Council passed legislation to phase out gas-powered leaf blowers from city-owned properties by 2025 and from private use by 2027. If you’re a Seattle homeowner wondering what this means for your yard and your landscape maintenance company, you’re not alone.
At Seattle Sustainable Landscapes (SSL), we’ve been following this development closely—and not just because it’s a regulation. It aligns with our values, our clients’ concerns, and the broader move toward quieter, cleaner neighborhoods.
Here’s what you need to know about the ban, why it’s happening, and how SSL is responding.
The Basics: What Is the Ban and When Does It Take Effect?
The Seattle City Council’s plan is a two-phase ban:
- By 2025: Gas-powered blowers will be banned for all city operations.
- By 2027: The ban extends to commercial and residential use citywide.
This includes both landscaping companies and individual homeowners. The city is also exploring incentive programs to help small businesses make the transition.
🔗 Read the official resolution from the City of Seattle
Why the Ban?
There are two big motivators: noise and pollution.
- Noise Pollution: Gas-powered blowers can produce up to 100 decibels—about as loud as a chainsaw. And since they run at a high pitch, the sound travels farther and irritates more people. Residents have been voicing concerns for years about the peace-and-quiet cost of a 10-minute cleanup.
- Air Pollution: Two-stroke engines (like those in most gas blowers) burn a mix of oil and gas and emit a surprising amount of pollutants. According to the California Air Resources Board, using a gas-powered leaf blower for one hour can produce the same emissions as driving a car over 1,100 miles. Seattle may be green, but it’s not that green yet.
🔗 Source: California Air Resources Board – Small Off-Road Engines
What This Means for You
If you’re a homeowner, here’s the good news: you’re going to get your weekends back—without the constant drone of gas-powered tools echoing through the neighborhood. And if you’re working with a landscaping company, it’s time to start asking them how they plan to comply.
At SSL, we’ve already been moving in this direction—not just because of the law, but because our clients have been asking for it. Many of our customers value quiet, clean energy, and sustainable practices. We’ve received more than a few emails politely (or not-so-politely) asking us to “please stop with the gas blowers.” Message received.
Why Going Electric Isn’t So Simple (But We’re Doing It Anyway)
We’re going to be honest: transitioning to battery-powered maintenance equipment has been challenging. We’ve trialed gear from top manufacturers like Stihl and Milwaukee, and we’ve found major limitations with battery life, power output, and crew logistics.
But we’re not giving up.
In fact, we’re currently preparing for a new round of field trials with Kress, one of the leading innovators in commercial battery-powered landscaping equipment. Several large companies in the Seattle area are already running Kress blowers, and early reviews (including from K&D Landscaping in California) suggest the tools may finally be catching up to the demands of real-world crews.
SSL’s Commitment
We’re committed to:
- Phasing out all gas-powered blowers well ahead of the city’s 2027 deadline
- Continuing to test and invest in cleaner, quieter, high-performance equipment
- Communicating openly with our clients about the transition
We’re not perfect—and we’re not fully electric (yet)—but we’re pushing hard to get there.
Final Thoughts
Seattle’s gas blower ban isn’t just a regulation—it’s a reflection of changing values around noise, health, and sustainability. And while it’s going to take some serious adaptation across the industry, we believe it’s a step in the right direction.
At SSL, we’re committed to leading this change—not just complying with it. Because let’s face it: no one misses the 7:30 AM leaf blower symphony.
If you want a landscape maintenance team that’s already thinking ahead, let’s talk.