Jan. 1 marked the official end of using combustion-powered leaf blowers in town, yet compliance remains a concern for residents and business owners alike.
The leaf blower bylaw, which was written to include multiple stages, went into effect upon approval in February 2023, bringing Belmont into alignment with several other towns in the state. At that point, restrictions limited the use of combustion-powered leaf blowers (gas/oil) at certain times of the year and certain times of the day.
On Jan. 1, 2026, combustion-powered leaf blowers became completely prohibited in town. While electric leaf blowers are allowed, there are limits on how many can be used at one time on a property.
According to Public Health Director Wesley Chin, the town logged 20 complaints during the week of April 6 from residents who witnessed examples of non-compliance with the bylaw.
“Complaints really did not start until the very end of March, which makes sense since the large quantity of snow, which may have pushed back spring cleanup for many property owners and/or landscapers,” Chin said in an email to The Voice.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, small-engine landscaping equipment, including leaf blowers, is a significant source of pollution that can lead to a wide range of health impacts.
“My concern, as the owner of Kelly Brothers Landscaping and as a resident of town, is the lack of respect from other operators [of landscaping businesses],” said Brendan Kelly. “It’s a change in times … Some of them have been in business 40 or 50 years in town, they should really be embarrassed.”
For a first offense, a warning letter is mailed. Second offenses carry a $100 fine; third offenses and each additional offense carry a $300 fine. Complaints can be documented online at tinyurl.com/BelmontLeafblower.
According to Kelly, his business transitioned to electric when he signed a contract in 2022 with the town to service Belmont’s elementary schools. Local businesses have had three years to adjust; now, he wants to see a “level playing field” between landscaping businesses in town.
“It’s going to take a while,” he acknowledged. “Arlington did it, Lexington, Cambridge, Brookline. You can’t fight [town] hall.