2900-25 ORDINANCE OF TRANSITION TO BATTERY LEAF BLOWERS 2.11.25.doc.pdf

2 1. Gas-powered leaf blowers may be used from April 15 to May 15, 2025, and from October 30 to December 15, 2025. Effective January 1, 2026, the use of gas-powered blowers shall be prohibited throughout the Township. 2. Leaf blowers shall not be used for the application of chemicals or products to treat insect or pest infestations. 3. Gas-powered blowers shall not be used for gutter cleaning or snow clearing. 4. No gas or diesel generators may be utilized to power any electric leaf blowers at any time. 5. Leaf blowers shall not be operated on designated “air quality action days" as designated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and declared by the Township’s Emergency Management Coordinator. 6. The hours of operation for all leaf blowers shall be limited to: Weekdays: 8am to 5pm Weekends: 10am. to 5pm. 7. The use of turbine blowers shall be restricted to lots in excess of 15 acres. The prohibition of using turbine blowers for the application of chemicals to treat bug or insect infestation is banned. §28-14—EMERGENCIES The Emergency Management Coordinator has the authority to suspend one or more provisions of this chapter for up to 24 hours if they determine an emergency exists in the Township. This suspension can be extended daily for as long as the emergency continues. §28-15—ENFORCEMENT This ordinance will be enforced by the Zoning Official and/or their designee. To report a violation, individuals should email ZoningOfficial@westorange.org with a time-stamped photo showing the violation, along with any relevant details such as equipment, company truck, and the incident's address, date, and time. The Zoning Official and/or their designee will then issue a summons to both the homeowner and the landscaper. If the summons is disputed or not paid, a court date will be scheduled. Penalties for violations: ● First Violation: Written warning issued to both homeowner and landscaping company ● Second Violation: $200 fine issued to both homeowner and landscaping company ● Third Violation: $500 fine issued to both homeowner and landscaping company After three violations by the same landscaping company, that company shall be suspended from working in West Orange for one year. Each violation shall be considered a separate offense. Deleted: Code Enforcement Officer Deleted: Officer