Lower Merion Township

Adopted — Not Yet in Effect Adopted (not yet in effect)

Ban status

Pennsylvania's first and only adopted GLB ordinance — phased in 2026–2029. Phase 1 (2026): gas blowers prohibited June 1–October 1. Phase 2 (2027): prohibited Jan 1–April 1 AND June 1–October 1. Phase 3 (2028): prohibited Jan 1–October 1 (permitted only Oct 2–Dec 31). Phase 4 (2029+): year-round prohibition. Applies to all persons and entities — residents, commercial landscapers, contractors, property maintenance personnel — with no residential/commercial distinction or property-size threshold. Exempts gas blower use during snowfall and within 24 hours after snow has ceased; electric blowers permitted year-round; gas-powered generators powering electric blowers are prohibited (anti-circumvention).

Enacted: 2025-11-19 In effect since: 2026-06-01 Year-round ban: 2029-01-01

Carve-outs:

Storm / extreme weather — During snowfall and within 24 hours after snow has ceased

Adopted by the Lower Merion Board of Commissioners 10–4 on November 19, 2025. Voting against: Commissioners Joshua Grimes, Daniel Bernheim, Louis Rossman, Scott Zelov. Penalty schedule: warning (1st), $100 (2nd within 1 year), $250 (3rd), $600 (4th+). Lower Merion's 60,000+ population and high-income Main Line demographic profile make it Pennsylvania's closest analogue to Greenwich, CT or Belmont, MA. The Sustainability Office runs a commercial landscape electrification resource page and cohosted an AGZA equipment demo with Haverford, Springfield (MontCo), and Narberth on June 17, 2025.

Last updated: May 29, 2026

Timeline

2026-06-01 Effective date reached — Phase 1: gas blowers prohibited June 1–October 1
2026-04-28T15:53:50.000Z Adopted — Narberth Borough phases out gas-powered leaf blowers by 2029, following Lower Merion's ban
2026-04-28T02:45:16.000Z Testimony given — Haverford Landscapers Oppose Gas Blower Ban Coming to Lower Merion
2025-11-19 Adopted — Board of Commissioners adopted ordinance 10–4

Upcoming 2029-01-01 Effective date reached — Phase: Phase 4: year-round prohibition takes effect
Upcoming 2028-01-01 Effective date reached — Phase: Phase 3: prohibited January 1–October 1; permitted only October 2–December 31
Upcoming 2027-01-01 Effective date reached — Phase: Phase 2: also prohibited January 1–April 1 (in addition to summer window)

Research & citations

Haverford Landscapers Oppose Gas Blower Ban Coming to Lower Merion — gas leaf blowers, 2026-04-28
Landscapers based in Haverford Township appeared before commissioners to voice opposition to a gas-powered leaf blower ban advancing in neighboring Lower Merion Township. The ban has not yet reached Haverford, but commercial operators are raising concerns preemptively about its impact on their businesses.
Narberth Borough phases out gas-powered leaf blowers by 2029, following Lower Merion's ban — gas leaf blowers, 2026-04-28
Narberth Borough (PA) passed a seasonal ban on gas-powered leaf blowers that will phase them out entirely by 2029, bringing its code in line with neighboring Lower Merion Township's existing ban.
Lawn Equipment Electrification — Lower Merion Sustainability Office — Lower Merion Township
Official township regulations page: full legislative history (amended gas-blower ordinance adopted by the Board of Commissioners Nov 19 2025) and the 2026-2029 phase-in schedule (2026 Jun1-Oct1; 2027; 2028; year-round Jan 1 2029).
Gas-powered leaf blowers banned; the details — Philadelphia Inquirer, 2025-11-20
Lower Merion is banning gas-powered leaf blowers — what to know — WHYY
Lawn Equipment Electrification: Leaf Blower Regulations — WeConservePA

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