Gas-powered leaf blowers; local prohibition or regulation, civil penalty.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide specific details about the types of leaf blowers allowed or banned.

Rules for Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers in Dense Areas

This law allows cities or towns with at least 2,500 people per square mile to ban or limit the use of gas-powered leaf blowers and set fines for violations.

What This Bill Does

• Allows local governments to prohibit or regulate the use of gas-powered leaf blowers if their area has a population density of at least 2,500 persons per square mile based on the most recent decennial report from the U.S. Census Bureau.
• Requires any new rule to take effect not less than one year after it is passed by the local government.
• Permits localities to set civil penalties for breaking these rules.
• Allows money from fines to be used to help residents and businesses buy leaf blowers that are not banned.

Who It Names or Affects

• Local governments with a population density of at least 2,500 persons per square mile
• Residents and businesses in those areas

Terms To Know

decennial report

A report made every ten years by the U.S. Census Bureau.

population density

The number of people living in a certain area, usually measured per square mile.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify what kind of leaf blowers are allowed or banned.
• Only applies to localities with at least 2,500 persons per square mile based on the latest decennial report from the U.S. Census Bureau.
• The exact fines and rules will be decided by each locality.

Official Summary Text

Local prohibition or regulation of gas-powered leaf blowers; civil penalty.
Provides that any locality with a population density of at least 2,500 persons per square mile may by ordinance prohibit or regulate the use of gas-powered leaf blowers. The bill provides that any such ordinance shall become enforceable not less than 12 months after the date it is enacted by the local governing body. The bill also provides that the ordinance may include provisions for a civil penalty and that the funds from such civil penalties may be used by the locality to assist with the purchase of nonprohibited leaf blowers by residents and local businesses.

Current Bill Text

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered
15.2-918.1
, relating to local prohibition or regulation of gas-powered leaf blowers; civil penalty.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered
15.2-918.1
as follows:

§
15.2-918.1
. Local
prohibition or
regulation of
use of gas-powered leaf blowers
; civil penalty
.

Any locality
with a popul
ation density of at least 2,500 persons per square mile
based on the most recent
decennial
report of the United States
Census
Bureau
may by ordinance
prohibit or

regulate

the
use of gas-powered leaf blowers
within its jurisdiction
.
Any such ordinance shall
become enforceable not less than 12 months after the date it is enacted by the local governing body.

The locality may authorize a civil penalty
for violations
in an amount to be set out in the ordinance.
Civil penalties assessed under this section shall be paid into the treasury of the locality where the violation occurred
and may be used by the locality
to
assist with the purchase of
nonprohibited leaf blowers
by residents and local businesses.