The State of California will be banning the sale of new small off-road engine-powered garden equipment (SORE), such as leaf blowers, lawn mowers, string trimmers, hedge trimmers, and small chainsaws beginning January 1, 2024.
This ban will result in the eventual phasing out of this equipment. The City of Irvine is interested in expediting this phased-out approach by proposing to enact a ban on the use of this equipment beginning July 1, 2024, for leaf blowers and January 1, 2025, for the remaining equipment. This ban will be presented to the Irvine City Council in late November 2023 for consideration.
The City would like to hear the community's thoughts on this proposed ban. If you own a landscaping business, the City wants to learn how you plan to transition to electric equipment given the state ban taking effect in January 2024.
Please send your comments and questions to environmentalprograms@cityofirvine.org.
Resources
- The Orange County Power Authority offers rebates and discounts on electric tools for landscape maintenance. To learn more, visit their website.
- The South Coast Air Quality Management District offers rebates for commercial landscapers and residents for a variety of equipment. To learn more, visit their website.
- The California State Ban can be read here.