Mayor Frank Saccomandi suspended Millburn's gas-powered leaf blower ban for a week in early July after storms left debris scattered across the township. The Environmental Commission discussed the ban's first summer at its Tuesday, July 21 meeting at Bauer Community Center, though specific enforcement numbers have not been made public.

The ban, enacted under Ordinance 2707-25, prohibits gas-powered leaf blowers from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Electric blowers remain allowed year-round. A companion ordinance, 2714-25, requires commercial landscapers to register with the township. The registration fee was waived for 2026.

A week without the ban

Severe storms hit Millburn over the July 4 weekend, downing branches and scattering debris across neighborhoods. On Monday, July 7, the Township Committee announced a temporary suspension, allowing residents and registered landscapers to use gas-powered blowers for storm cleanup through Friday, July 10.

The township's advisory specified the suspension was "intended solely to facilitate storm debris cleanup" and that all other provisions remained in effect.

The mess took longer to clear than expected. On Thursday, July 9, Mayor Saccomandi extended the suspension through Monday, July 13, citing the significant amount of storm debris still throughout town. The ban resumed in full on Tuesday, July 14.

Penalty structure

The ordinance carries escalating penalties: a warning for the first offense, then fines of $250, $500, $1,000, and $2,000 for subsequent violations. Repeat offenders risk suspension or revocation of their township landscaper registration.

No data on how many warnings or fines have been issued during the ban's first summer has been released publicly.

Months of outreach

The commission has tracked public awareness of the ban since at least January 2026, when Commissioner Matthew Greller reported that two neighbors he personally informed hadn't heard of the restriction. Since then, the township distributed an informational flyer with sewer bills in March, drafted a message for the weekly Millburn Message in April, and posted reminders on social media in late June.

Commissioner Bill Brazell also reached out to Township Forester Stacie Phelps in May about notifying landscapers directly before the Memorial Day enforcement start.

What's next

The commission does not meet in August. Its next regular meeting is Tuesday, September 8, at 7 p.m. in the Fireplace Room at Bauer Community Center in Taylor Park. The summer ban runs through Labor Day, Monday, September 7. The commission also noted five new student applications to its Student Environmental Group for the 2026-27 school year, following outreach by the Youth & Outreach Subcommittee.

Residents with questions about the leaf blower ordinance can email [email protected].