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At the beginning of the 2026, the City of Portland has prohibited the use of gas-powered leaf blowers within city limits. This ordinance is part of Portland’s broader efforts to reduce noise and emissions.
There is a temporary exclusion during the rainy leaf season for the first two years of the ban. From October through December in 2026 and 2027, gas-powered blowers may still be used to address seasonal leaf accumulation.
Over the past decade, we have closely evaluated the rapid development of battery-powered equipment. The technology has improved significantly in terms of performance and reliability. However, in a commercial landscape maintenance environment, battery-powered equipment requires a large inventory of batteries to sustain full-day operations. When factoring in equipment lifespan, charging logistics, and replacement cycles, battery-powered operations remain more expensive than traditional gas-powered alternatives.
To comply with the new Portland requirements, we have made a substantial investment in transitioning our crews. Outfitting the six maintenance crews that operate within the City of Portland required an investment of over $100,000 in battery-powered blowers and the batteries necessary to support daily commercial use.
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