The Woodside Town Council voted to introduce an ordinance that would prohibit the use of gas‑powered leaf blowers in most zoning districts, with exemptions for specific conservation and open‑space zones. The ordinance would take effect July 1, 2026, giving staff time to educate residents and landscapers and for the town to transition municipal equipment.

Town Manager Jason Ledbetter outlined the history and mechanics of the proposal and noted the town’s voucher program to help residents transition: of a $76,000 pool, staff reported $62,000 in vouchers issued (including $24,000 for larger properties and vouchers for landscapers).

Public commenters and several council members highlighted tradeoffs. One resident urged an exemption for SR‑1 (roughly 1‑acre) parcels, saying battery leaf blowers still perform poorly on larger, tree‑filled lots and that complying could raise maintenance costs or prices. The circulation committee chair and others suggested property‑size criteria would be easier for residents to understand than zoning maps. Supporters cited statewide restrictions on sales of new small off‑road engines and public‑health and noise benefits of electric equipment.

Council members described the proposal as a long‑running, iterative effort. After discussion, the council voted to introduce the ordinance and schedule a second reading on Jan. 13, 2026.

Council instructed staff to keep educating residents, provide enforcement by the town’s normal administrative code‑enforcement pathway, and continue the voucher program to ease the transition for residents and landscapers.