AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- GENERAL POWERS (Prohibits municipalities from restricting certain landscaping equipment based on its power source.)

S2574

2026 -- S 2574
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LC005017
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- GENERAL POWERS

Introduced By:
Senators de la Cruz, Burke, Patalano, and Rogers

Date Introduced:
February 13, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Housing & Municipal Government
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 45-2 of the General Laws entitled "General Powers" is hereby
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amended by adding thereto the following section:
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45-2-71. Regulation of powered landscape equipment.

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(a) Notwithstanding any provision of a municipal charter, ordinance, rule, or regulation to
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the contrary, no city or town shall enact or enforce any ordinance or regulation that prohibits, bans,
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or otherwise restricts the sale, purchase, ownership, or use of powered landscape equipment based
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solely upon the type of fuel or power source used by such equipment.
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(b) For purposes of this section, “powered landscape equipment” shall include, but not be
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limited to, leaf blowers, lawn mowers, string trimmers, hedge trimmers, edgers, and similar outdoor
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maintenance equipment, whether powered by gasoline, diesel, electricity, battery, or other energy
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source.
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(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a city or town from adopting or
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enforcing:
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(1) Reasonable, content-neutral noise regulations of general applicability;
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(2) Restrictions on hours of operation applicable to all powered equipment; or
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(3) Regulations necessary to address public safety concerns, provided such regulations do
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not effectively prohibit the use of powered landscape equipment based on fuel type.
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(d) Grandfathering. Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, any ordinance or
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regulation of a city or town that was duly adopted and in effect prior to the effective date of this

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section and that prohibits or restricts powered landscape equipment based on fuel or power source,
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including any municipal ban, shall remain valid and enforceable within that municipality; provided
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that, such ordinance or regulation is not amended, expanded, or reenacted after the effective date
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of this section.
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(e) Any ordinance or regulation adopted, amended, expanded, or reenacted after the
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effective date of this section that is inconsistent with the provisions herein shall be deemed null and
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void.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC005017
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- GENERAL POWERS
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This act would prohibit municipalities from restricting certain landscaping equipment
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based on its power source.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC005017
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LC005017 - Page 3 of 3