Gas-powered leaf blowers will be permitted again in Millburn Township starting Tuesday, Sept. 8, the day after Labor Day.
The fall season runs through Thursday, Dec. 31, under Ordinance 2707-25, which took effect Jan. 1 after what TAPinto Millburn/Short Hills described as "a year of debate" by the Township Committee.
Permitted hours for the fall season:
- Weekdays: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Weekends: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Golf courses: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The rules apply to landscaping businesses, residents and township employees alike. Township workers are exempt from the hourly limits during October, November and December solely for curbside leaf collection.
Turbine blowers, sometimes called "Buffalo Blowers," which connect to a small tractor or golf cart, are excluded from the restrictions entirely.
Fines escalate quickly
Violators face steep penalties, according to the township's newsflash page. A first offense draws a warning. After that: $250 for a second offense, $500 for a third, $1,000 for a fourth and $2,000 for each subsequent violation. Repeat offenders also risk suspension or revocation of their township landscaping registration.
Fines can be levied against multiple responsible parties for the same violation. The "responsible party" is defined as the person operating the blower or, if that person works for a lawn maintenance company, the company itself.
Landscaper registration required
A companion ordinance, 2714-25, requires landscaping businesses to register with the township. The registration fee has been waived for 2026.
The ordinance bans gas-powered blowers entirely during two other windows each year: Jan. 1 through March 15 (winter) and Memorial Day through Labor Day (summer). A spring window with the same hourly limits runs from March 16 through the day before Memorial Day.
In the event of a hurricane or similar extreme storm, Mayor Annette Romano may temporarily suspend the restrictions for up to four days of debris cleanup.
Residents and landscapers with questions can email [email protected]. The township posted a reminder on its X account on Thursday, Aug. 27.
