Using gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment during the summer is now banned in the Denver Metro/North Front Range Ozone Nonattainment Area, but only for government entities — for now.

The Regional Air Quality Control Commission enacted a rule in 2024 banning the use of small gas-powered equipment by the government. This rule requires agencies and private commercial contractors working for state and local governments to use non-polluting electric or hand-powered equipment from June 1 through Aug. 31 as part of the state’s effort to reduce summer ozone pollution in the ozone nonattainment area that includes Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer and Weld counties

The restriction applies to federal, state and local governments, as well as special districts.

The rule also stipulates that all state agencies and departments must comply with the requirements statewide.

Local government entities, including municipalities, counties, public school districts and special districts, or their contracted commercial entities cannot use smaller push and hand-held gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment such as aerators, brush cutters, chainsaws, push lawn mowers, leaf blowers, power washers, rotary tillers, shredders, string trimmers, and other similar push or hand-held gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment in the ozone nonattainment area during the summer ozone season.

Alternatively, these entities may defer lawn and garden activities to outside of the restricted period and continue to use gasoline-powered equipment.

However, the rule requires every government entity to file an annual report detailing exactly what equipment they use during the restrictions so state health officials can “ensure compliance and gather additional information about this strategy.”

There are exemptions to the requirement, but, says the state, “Regulation 29 is intended to cover lawn and garden equipment regardless of its use. Even though there are exempted cases, the division must know that the equipment was used from June 1 to Aug. 31.”

The AQCC does not currently regulate individual non-commercial use of gas-powered equipment. Still, Regional Air Quality Council Executive Director Michael Silverstein told The Denver Gazette that the AQCC will be reconsidering the rule this winter, which may include placing a use restriction on private users and private commercial lawn services, as well as a proposal to ban the sale of gasoline-powered lawn equipment.

“The Division was directed by the commission to consider expanding the use restriction to the commercial operators, the neighborhood landscapers and the commercial operators doing work for the private sector, and then also to bring back information on the efficacy of a sales prohibition,” said Silverstein. “So, all of that is going to be reconsidered over the winter. But that’s just a calendar. Nothing has been proposed or any action been taken there. The one rule on the books is for the government sector.”