Landscape Equipment
Background
With the adoption of Ordinance #867, the use of electric (either battery- operated or corded) landscape equipment will be required starting January 1, 2023 for residents, Town staff, and Town contractors. Starting January 1, 2024, the use of electric landscape equipment will be required for commercial landscapers as well.
Covered equipment includes leaf blowers, string trimmers, hedge trimmers, edgers, pole saws, chainsaws, and mowers. Chainsaws with blades or blade attachments longer than 18 inches are exempted.
The ordinance will help reduce the Town’s greenhouse gas emissions and protect the health and safety of residents and equipment operators by reducing hazardous air pollutants emitted during the use of gas-powered landscape equipment.
Additionally, starting in 2024, California will be prohibiting the sale of new gas-powered landscape equipment per Assembly Bill 1346. This regulation will help the State achieve its goal of transitioning to 100% zero-emission off-road vehicles and equipment by 2035.
Allowed Hours of Operation
The permitted hours of operation for landscape equipment are as follows:
- Monday – Friday: 8 AM – 6 PM
- Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays: 9 AM – 4 PM
Trade-in and Rebate Program
If you have not made the switch to electric equipment yet, do not worry, we're here to help!
We ask that you trade-in your gas-powered landscape equipment (drained of fluids), and in return, you can receive a rebate discount at the point of sale for the purchase of new, electric equipment. The rebate application instructions and online application can be accessed below.
A completed and approved rebate application is required to receive a rebate. Rebates are available on a first-come, first-serve basis until all funds are expended.
Enforcement
As of January 1, 2024, gas-powered landscape equipment is no longer permitted to be operated within Town limits for residents, Town staff and contractors, and commercial landscaping businesses. Only electric or manual landscape equipment are permitted.
Warning letters will be issued to the residential or commercial property for use of gas-powered landscape equipment until June 30, 2024.
After June 30, 2024, if a warning letter was already issued, a $100 citation will be issued.
Alternatively, a resident or commercial business can submit documentation that they have traded in their gas-powered equipment for electric equipment in lieu of paying the citation. If additional violations are reported and confirmed, increasing citations in $100 increments may be issued, not to exceed $500 per violation.
Report a violation
To report a violation, please click the link below and fill out the Code Violation Complaint Form. The form can be dropped off at Town Hall or emailed directly to Mark Lockaby at mlockaby@townoffairfax.org. Photos or videos of gas-powered landscape equipment usage on the property are helpful.
Complaints can also be reported by calling (415) 458-2370 and leaving a voicemail with the date, time, and address of reported gas-powered landscape equipment usage. Complaints will be treated as confidential.
Temporary Extensions and Exemptions
A one-time, six-month extension may be provided in the case of a self-reported financial hardship by any resident. To request an extension, please email Heather Abrams, Town Manager at habrams@townoffairfax.org.
Additionally, temporary exemptions may be provided to residents and landscapers that demonstrate there is a lack of commercially available or cost-comparable electric landscape equipment to replace their gas-powered equipment. To claim a temporary exemption, the resident or landscaper must submit documentation that may include but is not limited to:
- A list of equipment suppliers contacted
- A price comparison between comparable electric and gas-powered equipment
- Statement of financial hardship
Documentation can be emailed to Sean Youra at syoura@townoffairfax.org for review. Please indicate in the subject line "Temporary Exemption Request for Landscape Equipment". Any exemption granted remains in effect until electric landscape equipment can be obtained, but cannot exceed more than two years.
Additional Funding
The California Air Resources Board has released new funding to help professional landscaping businesses purchase battery-operated landscape equipment including edgers, trimmers, chainsaws, leaf blowers, and mowers, as well as extra batteries and chargers. Up to $25,000 in vouchers are available per purchaser. Available voucher amounts and details on how to purchase eligible equipment can be found at the Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (CORE) website.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the Fairfax Climate Action Committee for all their help with the ordinance and rebate program. If you would like to learn more or get involved in Fairfax’s efforts in mitigating climate change, please visit the committee webpage.
We would also like to thank our community partner, Fairfax Lumber & Hardware, for their participation in the trade-in and rebate program.