Off-Road Equipment
Off-road equipment, defined as any non-stationary device typically powered by an internal combustion engine not used for road use, contributes to the City’s greenhouse gas emissions. The City’s Off-Road Equipment strategy seeks to restrict the use of gas-powered two-stroke leaf blowers. By doing so, the City can not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also other environment pollutants such as noise and criteria pollutants as well.
Implementation of this strategy is estimated to reduce the City’s GHG emissions by 128 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e) by 2020 and 142 MTCO2e by 2030.
Explore the sections below to see what the City is doing to achieve these goals.
Off-Road Emissions
Leaf Blower Emissions and Alternatives
The Off-Road Equipment strategy of the City's Climate Action Plan (CAP) aims to cut back on emissions by prohibiting the use of gas-powered two-stroke leaf blowers. Transitioning away from fossil fuel powered landscape equipment will decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, reduce noise from yard care activities, reduce air particulates and debris, and prevent many other harmful emissions from polluting the air. According to the California Air Resources Board, two‐stroke leaf blowers are among the top four most used types of off-road equipment.
Alternatives to gas-powered leaf blowers include electric- and battery-powered leaf blowers, human-powered equipment, and preventing the need for equipment through smart landscaping and planning. These alternative options not only generate less noise, but also produce little to no harmful air pollutants.
Last updated on April 26, 2023
OR-1: Adopt a Leaf Blower Ordinance to Limit Use of 2-Stroke Leaf Blowers
Leaf Blower Ordinance
In 2019, the City Council passed an ordinance prohibiting the use of gas-powered two-stroke leaf blowers. This ordinance went into effect in January 2020 and has led to reduced CO2 emissions.
To assist residents with the transition away from fuel-powered leaf blowers, a City funded rebate was offered for electric or battery-powered leaf blowers until May 1st, 2020. Additionally, the California Air Resources Board offered the Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (California CORE) which assisted professional landscapers and small business who conduct landscape maintenance, with rebates for the purchase of electric landscape equipment through 2023.
While the ordinance has been passed, enforcement of the measure is ongoing. Any violations are encouraged to be reported by submitting a Code Enforcement Complaint using this online form or reporting an issue using the MyEncinitas app, which can be downloaded to your phone here.
UNIT | Greenhouse gases (GHGs) have a natural heat trapping capacity which varies by gas. Humans produce more carbon dioxide (CO2) than any other GHG. We count emissions of GHGs based on how each GHG’s heat trapping capacity compares to CO2s. This is called the "CO2 equivalent" (CO2e). We measure GHGs in metric tons of CO2e (MTCO2e). | MTCO2eMetric Tons Carbon Dioxide Equivalent |
| Greenhouse gases (GHGs) have a natural heat trapping capacity which varies by gas. Humans produce more carbon dioxide (CO2) than any other GHG. We count emissions of GHGs based on how each GHG’s heat trapping capacity compares to CO2s. This is called the "CO2 equivalent" (CO2e). We measure GHGs in metric tons of CO2e (MTCO2e). | MTCO2eMetric Tons Carbon Dioxide Equivalent |
Last updated July 10, 2024
Reduce Off-Road Fuel Use
How You Can Help
Last updated June 14, 2022
