Gas chainsaws are not banned in California. You can still own one, use one, buy a used one, and even buy certain new gas models. What changed on January 1, 2024, is narrower: retailers can no longer sell newly manufactured gas chainsaws with engines under 45 cubic centimeters (cc). Larger gas chainsaws, existing equipment, and the secondhand market are all untouched.
What Actually Changed in 2024
Assembly Bill 1346, signed in 2021, directed the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to adopt regulations eliminating exhaust and evaporative emissions from new small off-road engines (SOREs).1California Legislative Information. Assembly Bill 1346 CARB set the zero-emission requirement to apply to model year 2024 and newer SOREs sold in California.2California Air Resources Board. CARB Approves Updated Regulations Requiring Most New Small Off-Road Engines Be Zero Emission by 2024
The regulation applies to the sale of new equipment, not to possession or use. Retailers were allowed to sell through remaining inventory of pre-2024 models, and the used market for gas chainsaws stays open.
Which Chainsaws Are Affected by the 45 cc Cutoff
SOREs are spark-ignition engines rated at 25 horsepower (19 kilowatts) or below, a category that includes leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and smaller chainsaws.2California Air Resources Board. CARB Approves Updated Regulations Requiring Most New Small Off-Road Engines Be Zero Emission by 2024 For chainsaws, the cutoff is 45 cc of engine displacement. Gas chainsaws under 45 cc fall under the zero-emission sales requirement. Chainsaws at 45 cc or above are not subject to CARB’s SORE regulations at all.3California Air Resources Board. SORE Applicability Fact Sheet
That threshold matters in practice. Most homeowner chainsaws used for pruning and light yard work fall below 45 cc. Many professional-grade saws used in tree care, logging, and land clearing sit at or above 45 cc, and can still be sold new with gas engines in California.
The reason larger chainsaws are exempt is federal law, not a California policy choice. The 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act prohibit states from setting emission standards for new farm and construction equipment engines under 175 horsepower, and CARB classifies chainsaws at 45 cc and above as falling into that federally preempted category.3California Air Resources Board. SORE Applicability Fact Sheet
What You Can Still Legally Do
The rule is much narrower than “no gas chainsaws in California.” All of the following remain legal:
- Keep using the gas chainsaw you already own. CARB has confirmed current owners do not need to stop using gas-powered equipment and can run a CARB-certified gas chainsaw for its full useful life.4California Air Resources Board. CARB Small Off-Road Engine FAQ
- Buy a used gas chainsaw. The law targets sales of newly manufactured equipment, so private-party sales and used equipment dealers are unaffected.
- Buy a new gas chainsaw at 45 cc or above. These fall outside CARB’s jurisdiction and can still be sold new by California retailers.3California Air Resources Board. SORE Applicability Fact Sheet
- Repair and maintain your existing saw. Federal rules require that rebuilt engines meet their original certified emission configuration or a cleaner one, but routine maintenance and repairs are unrestricted so long as the shop doesn’t make changes that increase emissions.5eCFR. 40 CFR 1068.120 – Requirements for Rebuilding Engines
One caveat. CARB’s FAQ notes that existing equipment use remains legal “subject to any additional rules adopted by local governments.” Some cities and air quality districts have their own restrictions on gas-powered equipment, most often on leaf blowers, so it’s worth checking local rules where you live.
Who Actually Faces Penalties
Enforcement targets the supply chain, not homeowners. Under federal regulations that back up California’s framework, introducing an uncertified engine into commerce can carry a civil penalty of up to $44,539 per engine or piece of equipment. Tampering with emission controls carries the same per-unit penalty for manufacturers and dealers, and up to $4,454 per unit for anyone else.6eCFR. Subpart B – Prohibited Actions and Related Requirements These figures are periodically adjusted for inflation.
If you’re a homeowner with a gas chainsaw in the garage, the regulation isn’t aimed at you. Retailers who knowingly sell newly manufactured non-compliant small engines in California are the ones with legal exposure.
Switching to a Battery Chainsaw
Battery-powered chainsaws have improved significantly and now handle typical residential pruning and cleanup with less noise, no exhaust, and less maintenance. Most cordless models run 30 to 60 minutes per charge, which covers most homeowner tasks.
Professional users have a harder transition. Gas chainsaws still outperform battery models on sustained heavy cutting, particularly on hardwood or large-diameter logs over long workdays. This is where most of the pushback on the regulation has come from, and it’s also why the 45 cc exemption keeps professional-grade gas saws available.
California funds some of the switch. CARB’s Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (CORE) provides point-of-sale discounts on zero-emission equipment, with roughly $6 to $7 million earmarked for small business landscapers and sole proprietors, though the funding has been fully subscribed and new applicants are placed on a waitlist.7California Air Resources Board. Clean Off-Road Equipment Vouchers On the federal side, a proposed 40 percent tax credit of up to $25,000 per year for commercial zero-emission landscaping equipment purchases has been introduced, but as of early 2026 it has not been enacted.8U.S. Congressman Lou Correa. Correa Proposes Tax Credit for Zero-Emission Landscaping Equipment
The short version: your gas chainsaw is fine, you can still buy a used one, and if you want a new gas saw you can buy one at 45 cc or above from a California retailer today.