Gas-powered leaf blowers were banned in West Hollywood in 1986. (photo courtesy of So Pas News)

Gas-powered leaf blowers have long been a source of controversary due to noise and pollution. The city of West Hollywood is reminding the community that the devices are banned and is encouraging residents to follow a “good neighbor” policy in ending their use.

West Hollywood banned the use of the tools in 1986, and Beverly Hills enacted a similar ban nearly five decades ago in 1976. The city of Los Angeles banned gas-powered leaf blower use in 1998, in an effort spearheaded by several Hollywood stars, including Peter Graves and Julie Newmar, who has spoken and written extensively about the dangers of the devices. In 2011, in an interview with CBS News, Newmar said that use of gas-powered leaf blowers was still prolific throughout Los Angeles.

“It’s war without our permission,” she said. “It’s not good for us. We don’t need it. It’s not necessary. Get rid of it.”

Twelve years later, gas leaf blowers continue to be used and policies against them are rarely enforced.

“Gas leaf blowers are noisy and frequently they show up into neighborhoods at very early hours,” West Hollywood neighborhood and business safety manager Vyto Adomaitis said. “They wake up our residents, and it creates problems. We are responsive to neighborhood concerns. We’re wanting to a put the word out and educate folks that using gas leaf blowers [is not] allowed in the city of West Hollywood. Electric leaf blowers are allowed. We’re also giving people the opportunity to report these to us.”

Code enforcement concerns can be submitted by calling (323)848-6516, emailing code@weho.org or visiting weho.org/services/services/service-requests, where residents can download an app.

Adomaitis said that the city gets daily complaints about the use of gas leaf blowers, and that the city attempts to respond to these calls.

“We do have [Code Enforcement] officers – we have conducted early morning patrols to be able to respond,” Adomaitis said. “Some of the gas leaf blower users are in our city at early hours. And so, we try to have officers out to be able to respond to those calls for service. Part of the problem is they appear in different areas of the city at different times. So, it’s important for people to let us know their location and the times that they’re seeing these activities so we can properly respond to them.”

“Leaf blowers are toxic, noisy and continue to contribute to climate change, and we need to do all that we can to make sure we’re being good neighbors and ensuring that everyone can breathe clean air and keep their yard clean at the same time,” Mayor Pro Tempore John Erickson said.

Violations of the gas leaf blower policy can result in citations ranging from $100-500, along with a $75 administrative fee.

“The best way to make sure you’re being a good neighbor – and that your home or your apartment complex is being a good neighbor – is that if you see your complex using a gas powered leaf blower to please notify the city or notify your landlord,” Erickson added.