Gas Equipment Bans in 2026

Published September 12, 2026

A gas can with a red circle and slash over it

Updated from Our 2025 Guide

This replaces our original 2025 guide with something more useful: real bans taking effect specifically in 2026, sourced and linked below, plus the actual jurisdiction counts behind our state-by-state pages rather than general commentary.

  • 1,163 jurisdictions across 11 states are in the dataset behind this site's ban pages (surveyed fall 2025).
  • 72% have some form of active regulation on record; 15% have no documented ban; the rest are informational noise-ordinance entries.
  • Sale bans are almost nonexistent: only 2 of 1,163 tracked jurisdictions restrict sale. Regulation is almost entirely about use, not purchase.
  • Several real bans take effect during 2026 itself: see below.

Where the Data Comes From

The chart below counts the jurisdictions in the dataset behind our state ban pages, as last surveyed in fall 2025. It's a baseline for how much regulation exists, not a list of what's changing this year, that's the next section.

Jurisdictions Tracked by State

Cities, counties, and towns in our dataset with a documented gas equipment policy, noise ordinance, or "no ban" status

Jurisdictions tracked by state California leads with 254 jurisdictions, followed by New York (124), New Jersey (110), Illinois (105), Massachusetts and Colorado (99 each), Washington (88), Florida (78), Connecticut (74), Pennsylvania (68), and Oregon (64). California: 254 jurisdictions tracked California 254 New York: 124 jurisdictions tracked New York 124 New Jersey: 110 jurisdictions tracked New Jersey 110 Illinois: 105 jurisdictions tracked Illinois 105 Massachusetts: 99 jurisdictions tracked Massachusetts 99 Colorado: 99 jurisdictions tracked Colorado 99 Washington: 88 jurisdictions tracked Washington 88 Florida: 78 jurisdictions tracked Florida 78 Connecticut: 74 jurisdictions tracked Connecticut 74 Pennsylvania: 68 jurisdictions tracked Pennsylvania 68 Oregon: 64 jurisdictions tracked Oregon 64 0 125 250

Hover or focus a bar for exact figures.

What's Actually New for 2026

These are real ordinances with 2026 effective dates, not general trend commentary:

  • Portland, OR: its gas leaf blower ban takes effect January 1, 2026, covering both public and private property. Gas blowers stay legal in October through December for the first two years to handle heavy leaf piles; the ban goes year-round in 2028.
  • Irvine, CA: a full ban on gas-powered landscaping equipment for residents and small businesses begins January 2026, the final phase of an ordinance passed in December 2023.
  • Alexandria, VA: gas leaf blowers become citable for both residents and contractors starting November 17, 2026, the end of an 18-month phase-out that began when the ordinance was adopted in May 2025.
  • Lower Merion Township, PA: a phased seasonal restriction starts June 1, 2026 and expands every year after, reaching a year-round ban by 2029.
  • Washington State: House Bill 1868 would ban sales of new gas-powered outdoor equipment starting January 2026. It's still a proposed bill, not enacted law, worth watching rather than planning around yet.

The Countertrend: States Blocking Local Bans

Not every 2026-relevant development is a new restriction. Texas passed Senate Bill 1017, which bars any Texas city, county, or school district from banning equipment based on its fuel source. Dallas had been actively considering a gas lawn equipment ban; the state law forced the city to abandon those plans instead. If you're in a state with this kind of preemption law, your city legally cannot pass the kind of ordinance covered above, regardless of local sentiment.

What This Means for You

  • Check your specific city or county, not just your state. The pattern above holds across our whole dataset: regulation is overwhelmingly local, not statewide.
  • Sale bans are rare. Even in jurisdictions restricting use, you can almost always still buy gas equipment; the ordinance limits when and where you run it.
  • If your city has a 2026 effective date, plan the transition now rather than waiting for enforcement to start. Grace periods and rebate programs are more common while a ban is first phasing in.
  • If you're in a preemption state, that's unlikely to change soon. These laws are backed by state-level legislative majorities, not a single city council.

For the specific rules in your area, see our state-by-state ban pages, or browse electric lawn care providers if you're ready to make the switch.