City's Ban on Leaf Blowers Rarely Blown Off

Along with traffic congestion, air pollution and paparazzi, leaf blowers have been targeted as a nuisance of Southern California urban life.

The machines can be seen and heard sputtering on many streets as gardening crews descend on neighborhoods to blow leaves and debris around.

But that's not the case in Hermosa Beach, at least most of the time. That's because the city is one of many municipalities in L.A. County that has flat-out banned the use of leaf blowers because of noise concerns. 

The city’s municipal code lists leaf blowers under “prohibited noises” along with loud parties and barking dogs. They have been banned in Hermosa since the early '90s, and most of the time the prohibition is respected, city officials say.

A resident told Mayor Pete Tucker at a City Council meeting in November that he spotted maintenance crews using the device within city limits, which prompted the city to issue a notice to residents a month later reminding them about the ban. 

Many residents who see leaf blowers being used “let us know, and we’ll contact the person using the leaf blower,” City Manager Steve Burrell told Patch.

Then police decide whether to issue a citation to the person who is caught red-handed. “There’s not a hard and fast policy about that,” Burrell said. 

There are law-abiding gardening crews in town, he added. For example, gardeners whom the city contracts with do not use leaf blowers.

“I’ve seen gardeners that understand the rules," Burrell said. "[They’re] out there with a rake and a broom and then pick it up and put it in the trash can of the owner’s home that they’re cleaning and that’s it."

Among residents, the use of leaf blowers provoke a range of responses.

“Our maintenance guy doesn’t use a leaf blower. He uses a rake,” said Hermosa resident Gillian McCarthy, who lives at 19th Street and Hermosa Avenue. “I’m happy about it because I don’t like them in general. I think they’re noisy and smell bad.”

Hermosa Beach couple Allan and Christine Alfaro has differing views on the matter. Leaf blowers save time and are easier to operate than a push broom or rake, Allan told Patch. He suggested using electric instead of gas-powered blowers because he said they are quieter and pollute less. 

Many other cities in the Southland (Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles) have nixed the noxious machines due to these environmental concerns.

Christine Alfaro said she and her husband have their son’s health to think of as well. 

“Our son has asthma,” Christine said. “I’m not in favor of [leaf blowers] because of the pollution and the noise. There’s other alternatives.”

Santa Monica’s Office of Sustainability and the Environment reports that leaf blowers pose a significant threat to air quality and substantially increase air pollution by spreading “airborne particles … pollutants,” which are a health factor.

The agency also reports that the gasoline-powered leaf blowers generate as much tailpipe emissions in one hour as an automobile does driving more than 100 miles. 

And although the effect leaf blowers have on those with allergies is powerful enough to warrant an offending user’s arrest, ground crews continue to use them throughout Los Angeles.