Ban on leaf blowers is rarely enforced, West End residents say, as gas-powered drone continues

Like many, Stephen Wahl started working from home when the pandemic hit.But he didn't expecthe would have to reschedule meetings because of one loud culprit: thegas-powered leaf blower.

Wahl, a real estate agent who lives in Vancouver's West End, says he feels affected by the noise even though he doesn't live near any lawns or parksand says even hearing them while walking around the neighbourhood is annoying.

But Wahl shouldn't be hearing them at all, according to a city bylaw that banned gas-powered leaf-blowers in the West End almost 20 years ago.

Anoise bylaw in 2004 prohibited their use withinthe area bounded by Stanley Park, Burrard Street, West Georgia Streetand Beach Avenue, making the West End the first neighbourhood in Canada to ban the machines.

Gordon Price, a former Vancouver city councillor who was involved in calling fortheban in 2001, says the proposal wasa matter of reducing noise within a densely populated area.

"The argument there was very straightforward, and it wasn't about pollution. It was definitely about noise," Price said, adding thatthe low frequency sound of the gas-powered leaf blower can be irritating to many.

But the bylaw appears to have been rarely, if ever, enforced since it was enacted.

Work-from-home nuisance

That might be changing as the city facesa growing number of complaints from people who find their working days at home disrupted by the noise.

Long-time West End resident Carste McEmblingsaysleaf blowers have been nothing but a nuisance since he startedworking from home during the pandemic.

"If I am on a Zoom call, I make sure to close the windows," hesaid.

Vancouver Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yungsays she has seen frustration build over the gas-powered landscaping toolas the city has grownand has experienced the leaf blowers' wrath herself.

"Atthe city council we have been doing all of our meetings virtually. ... It can be incredibly difficult to try to hear yourself think, let alone work and participate in a council meeting," she said.

City seeks compliance

According to data from the city, noise complaints concerning leaf blowers this year startedpouring in from July. The cityhasreceived41 leaf blower-related noise complaints so far.

The city says once it receives aleaf blowercomplaint, a staff member will followup with the complainant to collect as much information as possible, then contact the contractor or operator in questionand seek their compliance.

It did not say whether it has handed out fines since the bylaw was enacted in 2004.

Wahl says it's frustrating that the city frequently enforces bylaws around parking, for example, but not others that directly affect residents.

Calls for citywide ban

In June, Kirby-Yung presented a motion to council requesting outdoor gas-powered tools be banned citywideby 2025.

She wants gas-powered gardening equipment banned in favour of non-emitting electric alternatives, which are consideredquieter.

"This is noise pollution and the impact on livability in the city, as well as the increasingly growing concern around GHG [greenhouse gas]emissions," Kirby-Yungsaid.

Another city councillor,Adriane Carr, is also calling for a ban by 2025 on the two-strokegasoline engines found in leaf blowers, hedge trimmersand other power equipment.

Both motions will be heard in a council meeting in January 2022.