Rye homeowners and landscapers heading into fall cleanup can no longer reach for gas-powered leaf blowers. The city's year-round ban, which took effect May 1, eliminates the seasonal window that previously allowed gas blowers from Oct. 1 through Dec. 15.

The city posted a reminder on its website on Monday, Oct. 5, warning that violations carry escalating fines. Penalties can reach $10,000 for a third offense, and repeat offenders face court appearance tickets and possible civil forfeiture of property, according to MyRye.com.

Battery-powered and electric blowers remain legal. Other gas-powered lawn equipment, such as mowers and weedwhackers, is not affected. One catch: an electric blower plugged into a gas-powered generator counts as a gas blower under the city code and is banned.

Permitted hours for any leaf blower have not changed. Weekdays run 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekends 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Use on holidays is prohibited.

78 summonses in May alone

Rye police issued 78 summonses for gas blower use in May, the first full month under the ban, the Rye Record reported in July. In the 12 months before the ban took effect, police had issued 511 summonses under the old seasonal rules. Larchmont, which banned gas blowers in 2022, logged just 29 summonses over that same period.

Larchmont Mayor Sarah Bauer credited public education for the difference. "Our Environmental Committee had done such an amazing job with education, … that most residents were actually asking for the ban," Bauer told the Rye Record in July.

The Rye City Council adopted the ban on Feb. 11 by a 6-0 vote, with Councilmember Emily Baldwin abstaining. Mayor Josh Nathan, speaking before the vote, called it time to "rip off the band aid and do the right thing."

City officials had said enforcement of the old seasonal restrictions was difficult. More than 400 violations were issued in the three months before the council took up the ban in January.

Emergency exemption hearing set

Limited exceptions already cover municipal use, schools, certain institutions and storm response. The council is scheduled to hold a public hearing Wednesday, Oct. 7, on a proposed amendment that would add a broader emergency-activities exemption to the leaf blower and noise chapters of the city code.

The next regular council meeting after that is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. at City Hall.