Gas-powered leaf blowers are off-limits in Millburn through Monday, September 7, and landscaping businesses that haven't registered with the township face fines starting at $250.
The summer ban, which took effect Tuesday, May 26, covers everyone: commercial landscapers, homeowners, and township employees. It's the first summer under Ordinances 2707-25 and 2714-25, which took effect Thursday, January 1, 2026.
Electric blowers remain legal year-round. Turbine blowers attached to tractors or golf carts, sometimes called "Buffalo Blowers," are also exempt.
Who must register
Under Ordinance 2714-25, every commercial landscaping business working in Millburn must hold an annual license from the Department of Public Works. The application asks for proof of a New Jersey business license, vehicle plate numbers, the make and decibel level of every leaf blower in use, and proof of liability insurance.
Registered vehicles must display a township-issued decal on the front bumper. Crews must carry proof of registration and produce it on request.
The fee is normally $200 per year, or $50 for electric-only operations. Both fees have been waived for 2026, according to the township's registration form.
Fines add up fast
The penalty schedule escalates quickly for repeat violations:
- First offense: written warning
- Second offense: up to $250
- Third offense: up to $500
- Fourth offense: up to $1,000
- Fifth and subsequent offenses: up to $2,000, plus possible suspension or revocation of the business's township registration
Fines can be levied against the individual operator and the company that employs them, according to the ordinance text.
The ban's emergency provision got its first real-world use in early July. After severe storms left debris across the township, Mayor Frank Saccomandi temporarily lifted the restriction, first through Friday, July 10, then extending it through Monday, July 13. The township said the suspension was intended solely to facilitate storm debris cleanup. The seasonal ban resumed Tuesday, July 14.
Under the ordinance, the mayor can suspend the ban for up to four days for a hurricane, tropical storm, or similar extreme weather event, with a possible three-day extension. Any further suspension requires a Township Committee vote.
The summer ban ends at the close of Monday, September 7. Starting Tuesday, September 8, gas-powered blowers are again permitted during fall hours: weekdays 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Township Forester Stacie Phelps oversees enforcement and registration. Landscapers can download the registration form at twp.millburn.nj.us or contact the Department of Public Works at 973-564-7034, 345 Essex St., Millburn.
