Leaf Blowers, a City by City Overview

Concerned about noise and air pollution, Los Angeles last week joined more than 40 California cities in restricting gas-powered leaf blowers. In one of the most aggressive local laws, Los Angeles enacted an outright ban on the blowers within 500 feet of any residence. Offenders--gardeners and homeowners--can be fined up to $1,000 or sent to jail for as long as six months. Elsewhere in Los Angeles County, many cities have no specific laws regarding the gardening machines, but limit their use to between 7 a.m. and dusk because of general noise ordinances. Electric and battery-operated blowers are also exempt in most cities, including Los Angeles. Here’s how cities across Los Angeles County have battled gas-powered leaf blowers:

Agoura Hills: Restricted by noise ordinance.

Alhambra: Restricted by noise ordinance.

Arcadia: Restricted by noise ordinance.

Artesia: Restricted by noise ordinance.

Avalon: No ban.

Azusa: No ban.

Baldwin Park: No ban.

Bell: No ban.

Bellflower: No ban.

Bell Gardens: No ban.

Beverly Hills: Banned.

Bradbury: No ban.

Burbank: Restricted by noise ordinance.

Calabasas: No ban.

Carson: Restricted by noise ordinance.

Cerritos: Restricted primarily in residential areas.

Claremont: Banned.

Commerce: No ban.

Compton: No ban.

Covina: No ban.

Cudahy: No ban.

Culver City: No ban.

Diamond Bar: No ban.

Downey: Restricted by noise ordinance.

Duarte: No ban.

El Monte: No ban.

El Segundo: Restricted by noise ordinance and other limitations.

Gardena: Restricted by noise ordinance.

Glendale: Restricted by noise ordinance.

Glendora: No ban.

Hawaiian Gardens: Restricted by noise ordinance.

Hawthorne: No ban.

Hermosa Beach: Banned.

Hidden Hills: No ban

Huntington Park: No ban.

Industry: No ban.

Inglewood: No ban.

Irwindale: No ban

La Canada: Restricted by noise ordinance.

La Habra Heights: No ban.

La Mirada: No ban.

La Puente: No ban.

La Verne: No ban.

Lakewood: No ban.

Lancaster: Restricted by noise ordinance.

Lawndale: Banned.

Lomita: Restricted by noise ordinance and other limitations.

Long Beach: Restricted by noise ordinance and other limitations.

Los Angeles: Banned.

Lynwood: No ban.

Malibu: Banned.

Manhattan Beach: Banned on weekends only.

Maywood: Restricted by noise ordinance.

Monrovia: Restricted by noise ordinance and other limitations.

Montebello: Restricted by noise ordinance.

Monterey Park: Restricted by noise ordinance.

Norwalk: Restricted by noise ordinance.

Palmdale: No ban.

Palos Verdes Estates: Banned on Sundays and legal holidays. Restricted by noise ordinance and other limitations.

Paramount: No ban.

Pasadena: Restricted by noise ordinance and other limitations.

Pico Rivera: No ban.

Pomona: No ban.

Rancho Palos Verdes: Banned on Sundays and legal holidays. Restricted by noise ordinance.

Redondo Beach: Restricted by noise ordinance.

Rolling Hills: No ban.

Rolling Hills Estates: Banned on Sundays and legal holidays. Restricted by noise ordinance and other limitations.

Rosemead: No ban.

San Dimas: Restricted by noise ordinance.

San Fernando: Restricted by noise ordinance.

San Gabriel: Restricted by noise ordinance.

San Marino: Restricted by noise ordinance.

Santa Clara: Restricted by noise ordinance.

Santa Fe Springs: Restricted by noise ordinance.

Santa Monica: Banned.

Sierra Madre: Restricted by noise ordinance.

Signal Hill: No ban.

South El Monte: No ban.

South Gate: No ban.

South Pasadena: Banned.

Temple City: No ban.

Torrance: No ban.

Vernon: No ban.

Walnut: No ban.

West Covina: No ban.

West Hollywood: Banned. West Lake Village: No ban.

Whittier: No ban.

Compiled by staff writers Jean Merl, Cecilia Rasmussen and Doug Shuit and correspondents John Cox, Michael Krikorian, Susan McAllister and Richard Winton.