Morristown banned gas-powered leaf blowers. But is anyone enforcing it?

MORRISTOWN — The telltale signs of spring were visible throughout town this week, with flowers, trees and hedges blooming and plush, green lawns coloring the landscape.

The familiar sounds of spring were there as well. Birds chirped, bees buzzed, lawnmowers roared.

But one annoying noise − rejected by voters during last year's election − should mostly be absent, if the town is successful.

Morristown police emailed an advisory to residents on Tuesday reminding them of the town's new ban on gas-powered leaf blowers, now in effect from January to September. This is the first spring season the prohibition is in effect after voters approved the measure by ballot question in November.

The use of electric leaf-blowers, which generate far less noise, and gas-powered lawn mowers are still permitted.

Morristown leaf-blower ban meets its first test

The ban went into effect at the start of 2024, but it's getting it's first big test this spring, as homeowners and landscaping companies pull out their power equipment to clear and maintain property.

Driving through the residential neighborhood off Macculloch Avenue Tuesday afternoon, only a few landscapers could be seen working their trade. One was observed operating a gas-powered blower to clear a lawn and driveway.

The man, who did not give his name, said he wasn't sure about the new law.

"I heard something about that, but I see everyone using them," he said.

More: Landscapers, residents sue Montclair over gas-powered leaf blower ban

Enforcement process is still uncertain

A state Open Public Records Act request confirmed that, as of last week, no citations had been issued for violations of the new law. But there are still questions about how the ban will be enforced.

After a lengthy debate on a proposed leaf blower ban last year led by former Councilman Stefan Armington, the council declined to take a vote, opting instead to put the idea on the ballot as a public referendum and let residents decide.

The question passed by a vote of 1,509 to 1,243, a 55% majority though only a fraction of Morristown's approximately 13,000 registered voters turned out.

Armington, who did not run for re-election, attended a March 12 council meeting this year to ask about enforcement with spring approaching. Current council member Robert Iannaccone identified the problem the town faces: The resolution that enacted the ban after the referendum did not include a fine schedule for violators.

For now, town officials say, the law will be enforced through an existing municipal noise ordinance that allows for minimum fines of $50 and a maximum of $2,000.

Mayor Tim Dougherty, speaking at the March meeting, said enforcement should be the same as when a resident calls to complain about contractors beginning construction work too early.

"You call the police non-emergency line, the police come and say you can't start until 8 a.m.," he said. "That's how you enforce that ordinance. I assume it's the same for the leaf ordinance."

On the streets, not much awareness

Last week, town resident Robert Fitzpatrick was mowing his lawn with a push mower powered by an electric cord. The setup "is a pain," he admitted, but he prefers to go electric because "it saves on gas and is good for the environment."

He also owns an electric leaf blower, saying the gas models are "very loud, and they smell."

But Fitzpatrick, an EMT and 12-year resident, said he was unaware of the restriction on gas-powered blowers and "has no feeling on it either way."

"This is just what I choose to do," he said.

In addition to the police notice, Morristown has also trumpeted the ban with a banner at the top of the town website as well as social media posts. "Keep Morristown quiet and clean," the posts urge, while adding instructions to call the police non-emergency line at (973) 538-2200 to report offenders.

"There's been a lot of education on this," Dougherty said. "We went door-to-door."

How much support the ban truly has in town will now be seen.

"As we know," Iannaccone said, "a lot of people don't vote."

William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com 

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This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Morristown banned gas-powered leaf blowers. Is anyone enforcing it?