Resources and guides for the 2022 D.C. Phase-Out Law

Please check this space frequently for guides on the legal, technological, business, and other aspects of Washington D.C.’s shift away from gas-powered blower use, and to battery-powered systems, which took effect on January 1, 2022.

— TO REPORT A VIOLATION OF D.C.’S NEW PROHIBITION ON USE OF GAS-POWERED LEAFBLOWERS, PLEASE GO TO THE D.C. SITE HERE.

(If you have any problems with the D.C. report form, there is a “Chat” function on that page that can offer real-time tech support.)

And in addition please see:

  • The DC Government’s information and form for reporting violations can be found here.

  • The new law’s text can be downloaded here.

  • The Washington DC Sustainable Energy Utility, which has announced a new rebate program for contractors and householders making the switch.

  • The Resources page on this site, with a wide variety of other information.

  • The Help page, which will have names and information of organizations that may be able to provide financial, technical, or other assistance with the change to battery equipment. (Note: QCDC does not endorse or certify any of the services or organizations listed here. They are offered purely for informational purposes. This list is being updated as new information becomes available.)

  • The News page, with a range of updates.

  • The Testimony page, which gives the full background of the D.C. legislation, and a full text of the bill itself. (You can also see the official text of the legislation at an official D.C. site.) For an exchange about the environmental-justice urgency of the upcoming change, please read this entry.

The following 3-minute video explains many of the basics behind the new D.C. legislation:

A fact sheet, with many questions and answers about the new law, can be downloaded here. Its contents are also shown below:

Fact Sheet DC change from gas-powered leaf blowers to battery-powered leaf blowers 

1.     What does the DC law require?  As of January 1, 2022, no one may sell or use a gas-powered leaf blower in the District of Columbia, except on Federal land. This law has now taken effect.

2.     Why did the DC Council make this change?   They were concerned about:

a.     Workers having their hearing damaged from the noisy gas-powered

b.     Neighbors being disturbed by the low-frequency sound of gas-powered blowers that carries throughout the neighborhood and penetrates people’s homes through walls and windows [Battery-powered blowers are much quieter in this regard.]

c.     A reduction in air pollution exposure for workers and neighbors that is a side benefit of this switch to battery blowers.

3.     When must this change be made?   The deadline was January 1, 2022.  The law was enacted 3 years ago in order to give companies time to make the switch.

4.     How will this ban be enforced?   The District’s Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) will enforce the ban with up to $500 fines.  They plan to rely primarily on affidavits from residents who see and photograph gas-powered leaf blowers being used after January 1, 2022.

5.     Are battery-powered leaf blowers quieter and do they work as well?  Battery-powered leaf blowers have been shown to emit a higher-frequency sound that does not travel as far or penetrate walls the way the lower-frequency noise from gas blowers does.  Battery-powered leaf blowers have been improving in their performance with the development of stronger batteries and the newer machines have a high velocity air output.

6.     Will this change-over be expensive?  Companies will need to invest in the new equipment along with extra batteries and chargers.  This can involve a substantial up-front cost.  However, studies show that over time users will save money using these battery-powered machines.

7.     Where can I learn more about this transition and where to get some help?   You can visit the Transition page on QuietCleanDC.com ‘s website at quietcleandc.com/transition-guide (which is the page you are seeing now), and the Resources and Help pages.

We are sorry we have run out of yard signs. We distributed 150 of them. We may have a new sign after January 1st. If so, we will post it here and invite you to ask for one.

Below is a message from the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulator Affairs (DCRA), preparing landscaping and companies for the change that is ahead. You can download a PDF of the message here.

DCRAEng.png

And, here is the same information in Spanish (courtesy of a QCDC translation). A downloadable PDF of this message is here.