Yonkers, NY Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Ban dates
- June 1 through September 30 annually
- Covers
- Gasoline-powered leaf and garden blowers
- Special permit fee
- $35, issued by City Clerk's office
- Storm exception
- Commissioner may suspend ban in storm emergency
- Penalty
- Class II offense, $100-$5,000 fine
Summary
Yonkers bans gasoline-powered leaf and garden blowers citywide from June 1 through September 30 each year under City Code § 91-31. The Commissioner of Public Works can lift the ban temporarily after storm emergencies, or issue a $35 special permit for work like cleaning up abandoned properties. Violating the ban is a Class II offense.
§ 91-31. Seasonal ban on gasoline-powered leaf blowers. A. The operation of a gasoline-powered leaf and garden blower is prohibited from June 1 through September 30 of each year. During times of emergency caused by storm, the Commissioner of Public Works may declare a temporary moratorium on the operations of this provision. B. The Commissioner of Public Works, through the office of the City Clerk, may, in his discretion and upon application, grant temporary special permits for the temporary operation of one or more gasoline-powered leaf and garden blowers otherwise subject to this section to accommodate special circumstances, including but not limited to remediation of abandoned or neglected properties or the cleanup of temporary work sites, and shall charge and collect a fee of $35 for each permit so granted.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4745274; v31 updated 2025-10-28; through 10-28-2025).
Full Breakdown
Yonkers City Code § 91-31, added in 2007 and amended later that year, prohibits operating a gasoline-powered leaf and garden blower anywhere in the city from June 1 through September 30 of each year, covering the entire summer landscaping season. The Commissioner of Public Works retains two tools to adjust that blanket rule. First, during an emergency caused by a storm, the Commissioner may declare a temporary moratorium suspending the ban so crews can clear storm debris with gas equipment. Second, outside emergencies, the Commissioner, acting through the City Clerk's office, may in his or her discretion grant a temporary special permit letting one or more gasoline-powered blowers run despite the seasonal ban, to accommodate special circumstances such as remediating an abandoned or neglected property or cleaning up a temporary work site; each such permit costs $35.
The ban does not touch electric or battery-powered blowers, and it does not restrict landscapers outside the June-through-September window. Enforcement sits with the Commissioner of Public Works and, per § 91-31(C), with the citywide Chapter 91 enforcement mechanism: the Office of Municipal Code Violations may issue an appearance ticket, bring an administrative proceeding, or pursue a civil or criminal case under §§ 91-42 through 91-44.
Violations & Fines
Section 91-31(C) makes a violation a Class II offense, except as otherwise provided. Under the citywide penalty schedule at § 1-21, that carries a criminal fine of not less than $100 nor more than $5,000 or up to 15 days in jail, or both, or a civil penalty of $250 to $5,000; a second violation within three years escalates to Class I penalties, and each day of continued use is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I use a gas leaf blower in Yonkers?
Can I get a permit to use a gas blower during the summer ban?
What happens if I use a gas leaf blower during the ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yonkers
How Yonkers compares: Cities with the Strictest Leaf Blower Rules·New York rules heatmap·Compare Yonkers to another location·View the New York noise ordinances overview
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