The city’s year-round ban on gas-powered leaf blowers went into effect May 1, with the intention of reducing noise and pollution. Electric and battery-powered leaf blowers are permitted, while gas-powered models are only allowed under specific emergency or municipal exceptions.
Rye joins around 70 other New York communities that have bans or restrictions. Some, like Larchmont and White Plains, have year-round bans, while others, like Yonkers and Bedford, enforce seasonal restrictions.
Although the new law just took effect last week, Rye may have been ahead of the curve in adhering to it; there were just two leaf blower summonses reported by Rye police in March 2026, down from 20 in March 2025.
Former Rye mayor and current State Assemblyman Steve Otis, along with State Sen. Liz Krueger, announced a rebate program for buying electric landscaping equipment to help commercial landscapers, local governments, school districts, and other institutions. The legislation passed the Senate on April 21 after passing the Assembly the day before.
“New York state ranks fourth in the nation in the highest level of greenhouse gas emissions,” Otis said. “Supporting small businesses and institutions in transitioning to emission-free equipment will improve air quality, public health, and make purchase of new equipment more affordable for local contractors.
“Municipalities in New York are increasingly adopting local laws restricting, in a variety of ways, the use of gas-powered equipment. The rebate program will help local businesses continue to serve their customers.”
Administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the Electric Landscaping Equipment Rebate Program intends to offer point-of-sale rebates to commercial landscapers and institutional users, including municipalities, who buy battery-powered electric landscaping equipment, including leaf blowers, weed whackers, or lawn mowers.
The California Air Resources Board has reported that operating a gas-powered lawn mower for one hour creates as much smog-forming pollution as driving an average car 300 miles, the distance from New York City to Portland, Maine. Operating a gas-powered leaf blower for one hour creates as much smog-forming pollution as driving a car 1,100 miles, or from New York City to Tampa, Fla.
Noise is also a significant negative impact from gas-powered lawn care equipment. According to a 2018 report in the Journal of Environmental and Toxicological Studies, sound levels at distances of 100 to 400 feet were up to 22 decibels louder for gas-powered leaf blowers than their battery-electric equivalents.
Well over 200 communities in 27 U.S. states and the District of Columbia have enacted restrictions on the use of gas-powered leaf blowers.
