Portland’s leaf blower rules come from two separate parts of the city code working together. Chapter 17.101 is phasing out gasoline-powered blowers, and Title 18 sets noise limits and operating hours for every blower regardless of power source. Since January 1, 2026, gas blowers are banned from January through September each year, and a full year-round ban on gas blowers starts January 1, 2028. Electric blowers remain legal but must follow hour limits and, during much of the year, a certified-quietness requirement.
When Gas-Powered Blowers Are Banned
Chapter 17.101 defines “gasoline leaf blower” to cover any blower powered by an internal combustion engine running on gasoline, alcohol, or other liquid or gaseous fuel. Propane units are included.1Portland.gov. Portland City Code 17.101.020 – Definitions
From January 1 through September 30, no property owner may allow a gas-powered blower to run on their property. Gas blowers are only permitted during October, November, and December. The restriction applies to every owner in the city, whether you handle your own yard work or hire a crew.2Portland.gov. Portland City Code 17.101 – Leaf Blowers
One narrow exception exists. If rain, snow, ice, flooding, or another storm creates a significant risk of injury to people or property, the City Administrator can authorize gas blower use during the restricted months.1Portland.gov. Portland City Code 17.101.020 – Definitions Outside that exception, running a gas blower between January and September is a violation.
Starting January 1, 2028, gas-powered blowers are illegal in Portland year-round, with no seasonal window at all. Only electric blowers (battery, cordless rechargeable, or corded) and manual tools like rakes will remain legal.2Portland.gov. Portland City Code 17.101 – Leaf Blowers
Hours You Can Run a Leaf Blower
Even a fully legal electric blower is subject to Title 18’s operating hours, and those limits run all year.
In residential zones, you cannot operate any leaf blower between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the next morning. The same window applies seven days a week, with no separate weekend or holiday schedule.3Portland.gov. Portland City Code 18.10.035 – Leaf Blowers
In commercial, mixed-use, industrial, and open-space zones, the restricted hours are 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., also seven days a week. That later cutoff only applies if the blower meets the noise standards in Portland Code 18.10.010. If it doesn’t, the residential-zone 7 p.m. cutoff effectively applies there too.3Portland.gov. Portland City Code 18.10.035 – Leaf Blowers
The 65 dBA Certified List
From March 1 through October 31 each year, any blower you operate must appear on the Noise Control Officer’s certified list of models rated at 65 dBA or quieter when measured at 50 feet. Only blowers tested by a third-party lab using the ANSI B175.2-2000 methodology qualify, and the list is updated at least annually. Using a blower that isn’t on the list during those eight months is a Title 18 violation.3Portland.gov. Portland City Code 18.10.035 – Leaf Blowers
From November through February, the certified-list requirement does not apply, but general noise standards still do. In residential zones, the baseline limit for sound reaching a neighboring residential property is 55 dBA during the day and 50 dBA at night. Most blowers will exceed those readings at the property line, so distance from boundary fences and quieter models matter year-round.4Portland.gov. Portland City Code 18.10 – Maximum Permissible Sound Levels
If you’re buying a new blower, check the certified list first.
Penalties
Gas blower violations under Chapter 17.101 follow an escalating structure:
- First violation: a warning.
- Second violation: a civil penalty up to $250.
- Third violation: up to $500.
- Fourth and beyond: up to $1,000 per violation.
Each day you remain in violation counts as a separate offense, so fines compound quickly. Unpaid penalties can become a lien attached to the property itself.5Portland.gov. Gasoline Powered Leaf Blower Phase-out FAQs
Title 18 noise violations are far steeper and separate. Each noise violation can bring a civil penalty of up to $5,000. If you’re cited and don’t correct the issue within 30 days, the city can add monthly enforcement fees, and if those go unpaid for six months, the monthly fees double.6Portland.gov. Portland City Code 18.18 – Enforcement and Penalties
A single blower session can trigger both tracks: running a gas blower during the banned months while also operating outside permitted hours or with a non-certified model draws penalties from each part of the code.
Who’s Responsible If a Landscaper Violates the Rules
The code puts responsibility on the property owner, not just the person holding the blower. “Owner” includes anyone with legal title, a mortgagee in possession, and the board of a condominium association.1Portland.gov. Portland City Code 17.101.020 – Definitions If your landscaping company arrives with a gas blower in April, you face the penalty. Review your service contracts and confirm the crew uses compliant equipment.
How To File a Complaint
The Portland Noise Office handles complaints for both gas-blower and noise violations. Complaints with specific dates, times, and detailed descriptions move fastest.7Portland.gov. Report a Noise Concern or Gasoline Powered Leaf Blower Concern
When filing, you’ll need to provide:
- The address or location where the violation occurred.
- The complaint type (noise concern or gasoline leaf blower concern).
- A detailed description including date and time.
- The location name if the property is a business or public building.
Video or photos strengthen a complaint. A clip showing a gas blower in use, or capturing the time of day and sound, gives investigators something concrete. If a vehicle or uniform identifies the landscaping company, note it.
Submit through the city’s online portal or call the Noise Office at 503-823-7350. Allow at least two weeks for staff to review and process the submission.7Portland.gov. Report a Noise Concern or Gasoline Powered Leaf Blower Concern The city generally contacts the property owner or landscaping company to issue a warning or citation depending on the violation history.