California is phasing out new gas-powered leaf blowers, lawn mowers and other small engines. The rules cover what can be sold new, not the blower already in your garage, though some cities go further. Here is what the rules say as of October 2026 and how to switch to quieter tools.
Quick answer: California’s small off-road engine rules phase out the sale of most new gas-powered yard equipment, with full enforcement starting with the 2026 model year and zero smog-forming emission standards by model year 2028, but you can keep using and repairing the gas equipment you already own.
What the state rules do
In 2021, California passed AB 1346. It told the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to adopt rules that prohibit exhaust and evaporative emissions from new small off-road engines starting January 1, 2024, or as soon as CARB found it feasible, whichever came later (CARB). In December 2021, CARB approved rules requiring most newly made small off-road engines, like those in leaf blowers and lawn mowers, to be zero-emission starting with model year 2024, with generators given until 2028 (CARB).
The timeline then shifted. Because California’s engine rules need federal approval, CARB had to wait for the U.S. EPA. According to CARB’s current FAQ, EPA authorized the rules on January 6, 2025, and because the 2025 model year was already underway, CARB deferred full implementation to the 2026 model year (CARB SORE FAQ).
Here is what that means today, based on CARB’s FAQ:
- Covered equipment: gas engines of 25 horsepower or less in tools such as leaf blowers, lawn mowers, riding mowers, string trimmers, edgers, hedge trimmers, chainsaws, pressure washers, log splitters and portable generators.
- Stores: may keep selling existing CARB-certified inventory. Some gas equipment has been certified for model years 2026 and 2027.
- Zero by 2028: by model year 2028, the standard for smog-forming emissions from new engines is set at zero. Manufacturers may use emission credits to certify engines through 2032.
- Your own equipment: California residents can keep using, servicing and repairing their gas equipment for its useful life.
Congress is reviewing the rule
CARB says EPA sent the small off-road engine authorization to Congress for review under the Congressional Review Act on June 12, 2026 (CARB SORE FAQ). Resolutions to overturn it were introduced in August 2026 in the House (H.J.Res. 214) and the Senate (S.J.Res. 205). As of early October 2026, both were still in committee. If a resolution passed both chambers and became law, it would cancel EPA’s authorization, which California needs to enforce these state rules on new engines. Check back before you shop.
Why California targets small engines
CARB says a commercial operator using one backpack leaf blower for one hour can create the same smog-forming emissions as a car driving 1,100 miles (CARB SORE FAQ).
Add up all the mowers, blowers and trimmers in the state, and the numbers get big. CARB reported in 2021 that smog-forming emissions from small off-road engines had already passed those from light-duty passenger cars in California and were projected to be nearly twice as high by 2031 (CARB). Gas blowers are also loud, and they kick dust and pollen into the air. To see where yard tools fit in your own footprint, try our free Household Carbon Simulator.
Local rules: Santa Monica and Los Angeles
Cities can set their own rules about using equipment, and some are stricter than the state.
- Santa Monica: Ordinance 2753, adopted August 22, 2023, says no one may operate a gas-powered leaf blower anywhere in the city at any time. Corded or cordless electric blowers are allowed only if the manufacturer’s sound rating is 70 decibels or less, and not before 8 a.m. or after 8 p.m. on weekdays, or before 9 a.m. or after 8 p.m. on weekends and major holidays. Repeat violators can face fines (Santa Monica Ordinance 2753).
- Los Angeles: the city has prohibited gas-powered blowers within 500 feet of a residence since 1998. In January 2024, a City Council motion asked city staff to study better enforcement, education and rebates for electric blowers (LA Council District 4).
Elsewhere, search your city’s municipal code for “leaf blower.”
Rebates for battery-electric yard tools
Programs open and close, so check the current status before you buy.
- South Coast AQMD residential rebate: residents in the district’s four-county area can get up to three rebates of 250 dollars each for cordless, battery-electric mowers, trimmers, leaf blowers and chainsaws when they scrap a working gas equivalent (South Coast AQMD).
- South Coast AQMD commercial exchange: commercial landscapers and gardeners, plus local governments, schools and nonprofits, can get discounts of up to 85% on zero-emission equipment, subject to funding caps, when they scrap working gas or diesel equipment (South Coast AQMD).
- State help for landscapers: CARB says the state set aside 30 million dollars in the 2021 budget through the Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project to help sole proprietors and small landscaping businesses buy zero-emission equipment (CARB SORE FAQ).
Quieter ways to handle leaves
You may not need a blower at all.
- Rake and sweep. A push broom and a leaf rake clear most patios, driveways and small yards. See How to Rake Leaves with a Push Broom Instead of a Leaf Blower.
- Mulch them. Chop leaves with a mower and leave a thin layer on the lawn, or spread them on garden beds.
- Mow without gas. A push reel mower is quiet and needs no fuel or charging. See How to Mow Your Lawn Gas-Free with a Push Reel Mower.
- Go battery. If you need a blower, choose a battery-electric model and check its decibel rating, especially in Santa Monica.
- Shrink the lawn. Native plants and mulch need less mowing and blowing. See How to Landscape with Native Plants to Cut Water Use.
Frequently asked questions
Are gas leaf blowers illegal in California?
Using one is not illegal under state law. The state rules limit sales of new gas small engines, and CARB says you can keep using and repairing what you own. Some cities, like Santa Monica, ban using gas blowers, and Los Angeles bans them within 500 feet of a home.
Can I still buy a gas leaf blower in California?
Possibly, for now. CARB says stores may keep selling existing certified inventory, and some gas equipment has been certified for model years 2026 and 2027. By model year 2028, the emission standard for new engines is zero.
Are gas generators banned in California too?
Portable generators are covered by the same rules but were given more time. CARB’s 2021 rules called for tighter standards first and zero-emission standards for generators starting in 2028.
Can I get a rebate for an electric leaf blower?
In the South Coast AQMD area, residents can get up to three 250 dollar rebates for battery-electric yard tools when they scrap a working gas tool. Check with your own air district and city for other programs.
See your carbon impact
Yard tools are one piece of your household footprint. Try our free Household Carbon Simulator to see how home energy, driving, food and the things you buy add up, and which changes cut the most.
Related guides
- How to Rake Leaves with a Push Broom Instead of a Leaf Blower
- How to Mow Your Lawn Gas-Free with a Push Reel Mower
- How to Set Up a Countertop Compost Bin in a Small Apartment
Sources
- California Air Resources Board, AB 1346 (Berman) Small off-road engines
- California Air Resources Board, CARB approves updated regulations requiring most new small off-road engines be zero emission by 2024
- California Air Resources Board, Small Off-Road Engine Regulations FAQ
- U.S. Congress, H.J.Res. 214 and S.J.Res. 205
- City of Santa Monica, Ordinance 2753 on leaf blowers
- Los Angeles City Council District 4, Leaf blower enforcement motion
- South Coast AQMD, Electric lawn and garden programs
Written and reviewed by the Accessible Sustainability Alliance editorial team. Last updated October 5, 2026.
