Greenwich Police Received 479 Gas Leaf Blower Complaints by End of August; Town to Contact Commercial Violators by Mail

Last week on WGCH 1490 radio, Greenwich Police Chief James Heavey talked about police response to the seasonal gas leaf blower ban in Greenwich.

While last year, the first year of the seasonal ban, there were no violations or fines; only warnings. This summer the new ordinance was meant to have teeth and residents were directed to call police, not the officer of First Selectman.

The seasonal ban went into effect May 23 at 6:00pm.

The restrictions are set to continue for most of the town until September 30.

However, properties over 2 acres may resume use after September 1.

The road to the seasonal ban was long and bumpy. Historically the town’s noise ordinance fell under the purview of the Board of Health. But after that board voted in December 2023 to repeal the noise ordinance altogether, the town was briefly without a noise ordinance before the RTM voted in January 2024 to restore the noise ordinance with an amendment restricting the use of gas-powered leaf blowers in the summer.

On July 18, Greenwich Police public information officer Timothy Kelly said that between May 23 and July 15 there had been 347 calls for service regarding leaf blower complaints.

“There have been many instances where the reported leaf blower has turned out to be some other piece of equipment that is not banned, and many times there have been no leaf blowers active upon police arrival.”

During an interview on WGCH 1490am at the end of August, Chief Heavey said police had received a total of 479 complaints.

He added that most of the time, the landscapers were gone by the time police arrived, and often the noise actually originated from lawn mowers or weed whackers, which are not subject to the restrictions.

Heavey described police response to the leaf blower complaints as “a considerable task,” and that each response “takes 15-20 minutes away from the officers’ other duties.”

Nevertheless, he said police did issue some tickets.

Going forward, he said police were working with the town’s Conservation Dept to identify commercial violators that were not complying and contact them by mail.

On his Friday radio show First Selectman Fred Camillo emphasize the ordinance was not a total ban, but rather a compromise.

He said there had been some confusion in the 2- and 4-acre zones, but that homeowners are responsible and should talk to their landscapers about the ordinance.

Camillo said he had stopped to talk to some of the landscapers himself.

“I do it in a way that is not confrontational,” he said. “I was more concerned with the smaller properties where it is not necessary.”

“Hopefully people will phase out the gas leaf blowers,” he added.

Conservation director Beth Evans confirmed her department was following up with letters to the known “repeat offenders,” and will be meeting again with the Police to try to prepare for next season.

A Quiet Noise Greenwich gas leaf blower impact survey administered July 3-July 12, 2025 had some interesting results.

With 195 responses, 20% indicated they noticed Greenwich was much quieter this summer; 45.6% said it was a little quieter but they still occasionally saw gas leaf blowers in use; and 34.4% said they saw no reduction in use.

Respondents were asked for suggestions. While responses varied, several people suggested the town contact commercial landscapers directly. Many said they wanted more enforcement, but were reluctant to call police and use valuable police time.

There were suggestions that the Town or QYG print out simplified explanations of the ordinance in both Spanish and English and mail them to homeowners and landscaping services.

Other suggestions about enforcement included:

“…Many landscapers are running the gas blowers for less time and/or at lower power to be less noticeable. I don’t see notifying the police as effective. I think we need police patrols but that does not seem to be a good use of police resources.”

“Not comfortable with calling in a violation. But I sure want to.”

“…if QYG hands me some 100 written/nicely printed/kindly worded 1-page “flyers”, incl. your website address, I am willing to walk and up my neighborhood street and hand them/place them with my street neighbors.”

“Hot spot to post when you see someone in violation. I saw guys on my street with gas blowers. I told them it’s banned as they smiled and nodded at me. If I posted the name of the company on their truck on a town site things might go differently.”

“There is no change at all in my neighborhood, and it is not my job to go outside and yell at landscapers. I also will not bother the police about this. So my hands are tied. It is frustrating, since I supported this ban, signed petitions etc. I wish the landscapers would obey this new mandate.”

“I appreciate your efforts, I walk…everyday in Old Greenwich like many people. It has literally changed quality of life!! It’s so obvious now when I come across the noise and stink and allergens of gas blowers. Is there a way to report without interrupting police work?”

“We need compliance teams and more yard signs. I made a couple of neighbors irate! They disregard the law sooo entitled. Meadow Lane is getting better. I guess. Maybe list areas or streets in GT or Freepress where leaf blowers continue. Pecksland noise all the time but neighbors should not have to report on neighbors.”

Click here for the Town’s noise ordinance.

Educational fliers are available here for residents to give to landscapers. People witnessing a violation can call the police non-emergency number, 203-622-8006. The schedule of fines are $100 for a first offense and $249 for subsequent offenses.