San Mateo Municipal Code Ch. 10.80 Operation of Leaf Blowers

It has been found that leaf blowers cause considerable noise and air pollution and have been the source of numerous complaints by San Mateo citizens living in residential zoning districts. This chapter is intended to regulate the use of leaf blowers to minimize noise and air pollution in the City's residentially zoned neighborhoods and in areas bordering residentially zoned neighborhoods.

Leaf blowers are defined as portable equipment that is powered by a self-contained fuel engine and used in any landscape, maintenance, construction, property repair, or property maintenance for the purpose of blowing, dispersing or redistributing dust, dirt, leaves, grass, clippings, cuttings and trimmings from trees, shrubs or other debris.

No person shall use or operate a leaf blower in a residential zoning district or in areas bordering a residential zoning district before 8:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, nor prior to 9:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Use of leaf blowers on Sundays or on the following holidays is prohibited: New Years Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas.

Any person who uses or operates a leaf blower in a residential zoning district or in areas bordering a residential zoning district shall use a blower nozzle extension and shall run the blower at a low speed to minimize noise. No more than one blower shall be operated at a residence at any time.

No material or matter blown by leaf blowers shall be blown upon neighboring properties or onto any portion of the public right-of-way, including but not limited to sidewalks and streets, without being immediately removed.

It is unlawful for any person or entity to violate the provisions of this chapter.

No section of this chapter shall impose a mandatory duty on the City, or on any officer, official, agent, employee, board, council, or commission of the City. Instead, if any section purports to impose a mandatory duty of enforcement, that section shall be deemed to invest the City, and the appropriate officer, official, agent, employee, board, council, or commission with discretion to enforce the section or not to enforce it.