ORANGE : Planning Unit Seeks Leaf Blower Limits

The Planning Commission has recommended that the City Council adopt an ordinance to restrict the use of leaf blowers in order to curb noise and pollution complaints.

The blowers “are damaging the residential environment,” said Planning Commissioner Randy Bosch. “They run continuously in some neighborhoods, hour after hour. They are a work-saving device that adds another layer of noise to the neighborhoods.”

Among other restrictions, the proposal would regulate the hours during which blowers could be operated and limit the length of operations, as well as require a noise-dampening device for the machines.

The Planning Commission would permit the use of leaf blowers from Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sundays and federal holidays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

On parcels of half an acre or less, the machines could be used no more than 15 minutes in any given hour. On larger properties, blower operators would be restricted to 30 minutes in an hour.

In addition, all leaf blowers used in the city would have to be modified to reduce noise by 50%.

To minimize dust and dirt, the proposed ordinance would forbid operating the devices within 10 feet of a neighboring property.

“The blowers sometimes move all this junk into the streets or onto neighbors’ property,” Bosch said. “It’s clearly an unfair imposition on people even if it’s a convenience to the gardener.”

Planning Commissioner Michael Alvarez voted against the proposal, saying enforcement would have “neighbors turning in neighbors, (and) with all gang violence and other things going on in this city, leaf blowers are way down on the priority list.”

Irvine and Costa Mesa already restrict the hours in which leaf blowers may be used. Irvine also requires operators to complete a city-run training session and complete recertification every two years.

The Orange City Council will probably take action on the Planning Commission recommendations before year’s end.