CYPRESS : City Moves to Limit Use of Leaf Blowers

After several months of discussion, the City Council has taken action to restrict the use of leaf blowers.

In an unanimous decision, the council passed the first reading of an ordinance that restricts the use of the machinery from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. It also limits where they can be used and makes it a violation to blow debris beyond parcel boundaries.

Operators could be fined $50 per day. If gardeners continue to violate the ordinance, the property owner could be fined.

“The ordinance is drafted so (that) if it is impossible to get a hold of the gardener, the property owner could be cited,” City Atty. Jerry M. Patterson told the council.

Several cities in Orange County already have restrictions on the use of blowers. The city of Irvine recently implemented the toughest regulations in Orange County that went into effect last month. All blowers are required to pass an inspection, and people who use them commercially must also take a special class on how to operate them properly.

Cypress officials decided to act when citizens complained about gardeners creating dust storms in their neighborhoods. One resident said she was “trapped” inside her home on Saturday mornings when the gardeners worked on her neighbors’ yards.

Councilman Walter Bowman called on the council to take more action if the current measures do not work. “I would be inclined, if it doesn’t work out, to ban them completely,” Bowman said.

The council is expected to give final approval of the measure at its Oct. 22 meeting.