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A Fairfax County lawmaker plans to revive legislation that would let Virginia localities restrict or ban gas-powered leaf blowers, renewing a proposal that previously stalled along party lines.
Del. Rip Sullivan, a Democrat representing McLean, Great Falls and Wolf Trap, said he intends to reintroduce the measure during the 2026 General Assembly session. The bill would give local governments the option to regulate the machines, rather than impose a statewide ban.
Sullivan said earlier efforts may have been hurt by confusion over the proposal’s purpose. Some opponents apparently believed the legislation would require localities to prohibit gas blowers, he said, when it would only authorize them to act.
The issue has generated recurring complaints in Northern Virginia neighborhoods, where residents have raised concerns about noise, exhaust and air pollution. Sullivan described it as a quality-of-life and health matter, particularly for landscaping employees who may operate the equipment throughout the day.
Fairfax County is already transitioning toward electric blowers in government operations. Alexandria has gone further, becoming Virginia’s first jurisdiction to approve a community-wide ban on gas-powered leaf blowers. That prohibition is scheduled to take effect Nov. 17, 2026.
Alexandria officials said the city’s charter provided the necessary authority, a conclusion affirmed by the Virginia attorney general’s office.
Fairfax City and Vienna have also considered restrictions. Fairfax City staff recommended gradually removing gas blowers from municipal operations and watching the results of Alexandria’s policy. Vienna officials discussed regulating blowers or other loud lawn equipment through the town’s noise ordinance but decided the proposal required more study.
Previous bills stalled
Sullivan introduced legislation in 2024 that would have broadly permitted localities to regulate or prohibit gas-powered leaf blowers. Governments could have imposed civil penalties, although the bill did not establish fine amounts or other conditions.
The proposal reached the House floor before delegates returned it to the Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns. The committee allowed it to die on Feb. 13, 2024, before the deadline for legislation to cross from one chamber to the other.
Sen. Saddam Salim, whose district includes Fairfax City and the Vienna and Tysons area, revived the measure in 2025. His version added language allowing revenue from civil penalties to help residents and businesses buy electric blowers.
That bill failed to advance from the Senate Committee on Local Government.
Sullivan had not formally filed his 2026 leaf-blower legislation as of press time, but said it would probably remain substantially similar to the 2025 proposal. He and Salim have discussed whether its scope should be limited to more densely populated areas, where blower noise is more likely to affect nearby residents.
No decision has been made on that possible change. Salim also had not decided as of Dec. 29 whether to sponsor the Senate version again. Because senators face limits on how many bills they may introduce, his office said he was weighing his priorities carefully while continuing to view the measure as important.
Sullivan is separately pursuing legislation targeting excessive vehicle-exhaust noise. His proposal would authorize certain counties and cities, including Northern Virginia localities, to use electronic monitoring systems to detect violations.
Governments using the technology would have to publicly disclose the number of prosecuted violations and the money collected through fines. The authorization would expire July 1, 2028. A similar measure was vetoed in 2025 by outgoing Gov. Glenn Youngkin.