AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- GENERAL POWERS (Prohibits municipalities from restricting certain landscaping equipment based on its power source. It also prohibits any changes in the regulation of the use of power equipment in the municipality, without a positive referendum vote.)

S3029

2026 -- S 3029
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LC005253
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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 Patalano, Ciccone, Tikoian, Famiglietti, Thompson, Dimitri,
Appollonio, Burke, and Raptakis

Date Introduced:
March 05, 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) Except as provided in subsections (d) and (e) of this section, and notwithstanding any
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provision of a municipal charter, ordinance, rule, or regulation to the contrary, no city or town shall
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enact or enforce any ordinance or regulation that prohibits, bans, or otherwise restricts the sale,
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purchase, ownership, or use of powered landscape equipment, based solely upon the type of fuel
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or power source used in the operation of 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) No municipality shall adopt any changes in their regulation of power equipment,

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including a change in what type of power equipment can be used within its jurisdiction unless the
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changes have been approved by a majority of those voting in the municipality's referendum.
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(e) 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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(f) Any ordinance or regulation adopted, amended, expanded, or reenacted concerning the
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use of power equipment after the effective date of this section, that is inconsistent with the
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provisions herein shall be deemed null and void.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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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 unless the restriction was grandfathered in or as a result of a positive
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referendum vote.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC005253
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