Pleasanton, CA Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)

Pleasanton has moved beyond mere hour restrictions to a full prohibition on gasoline-powered leaf blowers. The City Council gave initial approval in December 2023 (a 4-1 vote on December 14, 2023), and it became unlawful to operate a gas-powered leaf blower anywhere in the city, with citations beginning June 1, 2024. The ban is part of the city's leaf blower regulations and was driven by both noise and air-quality concerns; city materials noted that a commercial gas-powered blower can emit as much smog-forming pollution in an hour as a car driven a very long distance. Electric and battery-powered leaf blowers are not banned and are the city's intended alternative, but they remain subject to the general noise regulations of Chapter 9.04, including the 60 dBA residential property limit and the daytime exemption windows of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays and holidays. Landscapers and residents who previously relied on gas blowers must switch to electric equipment to remain in compliance. Because the prohibition applies citywide at any time of day, there is no hour during which a gas blower may lawfully be used in Pleasanton.