ENERGY ISSUES
California's ban on gas-powered equipment and tools
JUST THE FACTS
On October 9, 2021, California lawmakers passed Assembly Bill 1346, banning the sale of new gas-powered small off-road engines (SOREs) such as lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and chainsaws. This regulation applies to residential and commercial lawn and garden equipment produced on or after January 1, 2024.
TOOLS & EQUIPMENT MANDATE
How it affects us
01
Increased Costs for Landscapers
Electric alternatives to gas-powered landscaping equipment often come with higher upfront costs. A commercial-grade electric mower can cost nearly $30,000, more than 3x a comparable gas-powered mower. As equipment costs rise, landscapers will likely need to pass down these expenses to their customers.
02
Increased Costs for Homeowners
Homeowners that do their own landscaping may find that electric equipment has a shorter lifespan (5 to 10 years compared to over 15 years for gas models) and may require expensive battery replacements.
03
Infrastructure Needs
Electric landscaping tools require charging infrastructure, which can be a challenge for independent landscapers without access to regular charging stations.
04
Tedious Charging Times
Typical electric lawn mowers have a battery-life of 2 hours. Charging times for electric tools may interfere with productivity and scheduling, making them less efficient for commercial use.
05
Impact on Small Businesses
88% of landscaping and groundskeeping workers identify as Latino. The financial strain of this transition will disproportionately affect Latino business owners and independent contractors as they make the transition to electric tools.
06
Battery Limitations
Current battery technology does not yet match the running time of gas-powered equipment, potentially affecting productivity and efficiency of landscaping businesses.
COMMUNITY VOICES
Hear real concerns from real people
It's time to make our voices heard!
If you believe California's energy mandates are unfair, unrealistic, and unaffordable, let your legislators know.
ISSUES
Learn more about other California energy mandates
Learn more about new and proposed legislation restricting our right to choose in California.
By 2035, the sale of new gas-powered cars in California will be banned, allowing instead only zero-emission vehicles.
In 2023, California legislators approved a statewide ban on new diesel truck sales by 2036, also requiring all commercial trucks to be zero-emission by 2042.
California has banned the sale of new gasoline-powered landscaping equipment such as lawn mowers, leaf blowers, chainsaws, and other gas-powered tools and equipment.
California is pushing to eliminate the use of natural gas appliances (stoves, ovens, clothes dryers, etc.) – for both residential and commercial use.
Levanta Tu Voz es un programa de Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA), creado para levantar la voz de la comunidad latina en California.
© 2025 Western States Petroleum Association | Todos los derechos reservados
Pagado por Western States Petroleum Association
Levanta Tu Voz is a program of the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA) created to empower voices of the Latino community across California.
© 2025 Western States Petroleum Association | All rights reserved.
