California AB 1346 Explained: What Landscapers and Homeowners Need to Know About Gas Lawn Equipment in 2026

If you have heard that “California banned gas lawn equipment,” you are not crazy. That is how a lot of headlines explain AB 1346.

But it is not quite right.

California did change the future of gas-powered lawn and garden equipment. The state is pushing the market toward zero-emission equipment, and that affects leaf blowers, lawn mowers, string trimmers, hedge trimmers, edgers, and other common tools. But AB 1346 is not a simple statewide rule that says every existing gas mower or gas leaf blower is suddenly illegal to use.

That distinction matters.

For landscapers, it affects what you buy next, how you plan your equipment replacement cycle, and how you talk to customers. For homeowners, it affects what kind of equipment you can expect to see from professional crews, what you should ask before hiring someone, and how state rules interact with local city restrictions.

Here is the plain-English version.

The short answer

AB 1346 directed the California Air Resources Board, usually called CARB, to adopt regulations that phase out exhaust and evaporative emissions from new small off-road engines.

That phrase — new small off-road engines — is the key.

The law and CARB’s follow-up regulations are mostly about new equipment produced for sale in California, not a statewide confiscation or overnight stop-use order for every gas-powered tool already sitting in a garage, trailer, or landscaping yard.

Current owners can generally keep using existing CARB-compliant gas equipment, unless a stricter local city or county rule says otherwise.

So if you remember one thing from this article, make it this:

California is changing the market for new gas-powered lawn equipment. It did not create a blanket statewide ban on using every existing gas mower, blower, trimmer, or chainsaw.

Why this law exists in the first place

Small gas engines are small, but they are not harmless.

AB 1346 was aimed at small off-road engines, often shortened to SORE. These are spark-ignition engines rated at or below 19 kilowatts, which is about 25 horsepower. They are commonly used in lawn and garden equipment, portable generators, pressure washers, and some other outdoor power tools.

California lawmakers and CARB focused on this category because these engines create air pollution out of proportion to their size. The law itself points to emissions from small off-road engines and directs CARB to move the category toward zero-emission equipment where feasible.

That is why this topic can feel confusing. A homeowner hears “gas leaf blower ban.” A landscaper hears “my whole trailer is illegal.” A retailer hears “can I still sell what is on the shelf?”

The real answer depends on the equipment, the model year, whether it is new or already owned, and whether there is also a local city rule layered on top.

What AB 1346 actually did

AB 1346 added Section 43018.11 to the California Health and Safety Code.

The law required CARB to adopt cost-effective and technologically feasible regulations to prohibit engine exhaust and evaporative emissions from new small off-road engines. It also told CARB to consider real-world issues like equipment development timelines, charging demand, commercial and residential use cases, and the availability of zero-emission generators and emergency-response equipment.

That last part is important. This was not written as a one-sentence “ban gas tools tomorrow” law. It was written as a regulatory direction to CARB, with feasibility built into the process.

AB 1346 also instructed CARB to identify and, where feasible, make available commercial rebates or similar incentive funding to help support the transition to zero-emission small off-road equipment.

In regular-person language, the state told CARB:

Move new small gas engines toward zero emissions, account for practical transition issues, and help support commercial users where possible.

What changed in 2024?

CARB approved updated small off-road engine regulations in December 2021. Under those amendments, most new small off-road engines produced for sale in California were set on a zero-emission path beginning with model year 2024.

For most covered lawn and garden equipment, that means new engine families had to meet zero exhaust and evaporative emission standards beginning with model year 2024.

That includes common equipment categories like:

• Leaf blowers
• Lawn mowers
• Riding mowers
• String trimmers
• Hedge trimmers
• Edgers
• Log splitters
• Smaller chainsaws under CARB’s covered threshold
• Some pressure washers
• Portable generators, with special timing rules

But there are two big cautions here.

First, this applies to the regulated engine and equipment market, especially manufacturers, sellers, retailers, and distributors. It is not the same as telling every homeowner or landscaper they must throw away existing equipment.

Second, not every equipment category moved at exactly the same speed. Portable generators and large pressure washers were treated differently.

What changes in 2028?

Portable generators and pressure washers with engines at or above 225 cc were given a later phase-in.

CARB’s 2021 amendments made standards for those categories more stringent starting in model year 2024, but they did not immediately move them to the same zero-emission standard as most other covered equipment.

The second phase begins with model year 2028, when portable generators and pressure washers at or above 225 cc move to zero-emission standards.

So the rough timeline looks like this:

• AB 1346 was signed in 2021.
• CARB approved the updated small off-road engine rules in 2021.
• Most covered new lawn and garden engines moved to zero-emission standards starting with model year 2024.
• Portable generators and large pressure washers were given a later phase-in.
• In model year 2028, those generator and large-pressure-washer categories move to zero-emission standards.

There is one more wrinkle: EPA granted California the needed authorization for CARB’s small off-road engine amendments in a Federal Register notice published in January 2025. That matters because California needs federal authorization for certain nonroad engine emission standards.

For readers, the practical point is simple: this is a real regulation, not a rumor, but the timing depends on equipment category and model year.

Does California ban existing gas lawn equipment?

No — not in the broad, statewide way people often mean.

This is the most important section of the whole article.

CARB has said the updated small off-road engine requirement applies to manufacturers and impacts new equipment only. Californians can continue to operate current CARB-compliant gasoline-powered small off-road engine equipment. Older models already on store shelves can also be purchased even if they are gas-powered, as long as they were manufactured under valid CARB certification.

That means if a landscaper already owns a CARB-compliant gas mower, blower, trimmer, or other covered tool, AB 1346 by itself does not automatically make that tool illegal to use statewide.

But do not stop reading there.

Local rules can be stricter. A city can have its own gas leaf blower restriction, noise ordinance, use-hour limit, or residential-area rule. So a landscaper may be okay under the statewide CARB new-equipment rule and still violate a local city ordinance.

That is why this topic creates so much confusion. California has a statewide emissions rule for new equipment, and many cities have local rules about actual use.

Those are related, but they are not the same thing.

So can landscapers still use gas tools in California?

In many cases, yes, if the equipment is existing CARB-compliant equipment and there is no stricter local rule that prohibits use.

But from a business standpoint, “can I still use it?” is not the only question.

A better question is:

Will customers, cities, HOAs, property managers, and future equipment availability keep moving toward lower-noise and zero-emission service?

That answer is clearly yes.

Even where existing gas equipment remains usable, California is pushing the replacement market toward battery-electric and other zero-emission tools. Over time, that changes what is available at dealers, what new crews buy, what homeowners expect, and what commercial clients ask for in proposals.

A smart landscaping company should not panic. But it should plan.

Equipment that is generally covered by CARB’s SORE rules

CARB’s small off-road engine applicability guidance lists several examples of equipment that use engines subject to current SORE regulations.

Common covered categories include:

• Chainsaws under 45 cc
• Edgers
• Hedge trimmers
• Lawn mowers
• Leaf blowers
• Log splitters
• Portable generators
• Pressure washers
• Riding mowers
• String trimmers

That does not mean every version of every tool is treated the same way forever. Engine size, fuel type, use case, and equipment category can matter.

For example, CARB’s guidance lists chainsaws under 45 cc as subject to SORE rules, while chainsaws at or above 45 cc are listed as not subject to the current SORE regulations. Pressure washers and generators also have category-specific timing.

This is where sloppy blog posts get people in trouble. “California banned gas lawn tools” is easier to write, but it is not precise enough.

Equipment that may not be covered the same way

CARB’s applicability guidance also lists examples of equipment not subject to current SORE regulations.

That includes categories such as:

• Air compressors
• Blade-capable brush cutters or clearing saws at or above 40 cc
• Chainsaws at or above 45 cc
• Chippers
• Light towers
• Pumps at or above 40 cc
• Concrete, masonry, and cutoff saws
• Shredders and grinders
• Stationary generators
• Stump grinders
• Welders
• Diesel-powered equipment
• Stationary equipment
• Equipment with certain large spark-ignition engines over one liter

For most homeowners, these edge cases will not matter. For commercial operators, they do.

If your company runs crews, owns specialty equipment, or uses tools that sit near a threshold, do not rely on a generic blog post. Check the CARB category guidance, talk to your dealer, and verify how the specific engine and equipment type is treated.

State rule vs. city rule: the difference people miss

AB 1346 and CARB’s SORE regulations are about emissions from new small off-road engines.

City rules are often about use.

That is the cleanest way to separate the two.

California’s statewide rule can affect whether new gas-powered equipment can be produced for sale in the California market. A local city ordinance can say when, where, or whether certain equipment may be used in that city.

For example, a city may restrict gas-powered leaf blowers near residences, limit operating hours, set noise standards, or ban gas blower use entirely inside city limits.

That means a landscaper needs two layers of compliance:

1. State equipment rules — what can be sold, certified, or newly produced for California.
2. Local use rules — what can actually be used at a specific property, in a specific city, at a specific time.

Homeowners should understand this too. Do not assume that because a tool is sold legally, it can be used in every neighborhood at any hour. And do not assume that because existing gas equipment is not banned statewide, your city has no restrictions.

What this means for homeowners

If you are a California homeowner, AB 1346 does not mean you need to run to the garage and throw away your gas mower.

But it does mean the equipment market is changing.

If you are buying new equipment for your own home, battery-electric options are becoming the default direction for much of the category. That does not mean every electric tool is perfect. You still need to think about yard size, runtime, battery compatibility, storage, charging, replacement batteries, and noise.

If you hire a landscaper, the better move is to ask clear questions before the crew shows up.

Ask:

• What equipment do you use for blowing, mowing, trimming, and edging?
• Are any gas handheld tools still used on my property?
• Does my city have a local gas leaf blower ban or noise ordinance?
• Do your crews have enough battery capacity to finish the job without switching back to gas?
• Can you offer lower-noise service options for early mornings, work-from-home households, babies, night-shift workers, or HOA-sensitive properties?

The goal is not to interrogate your landscaper. The goal is to avoid surprises.

A good provider should be able to answer without getting defensive.

What this means for landscapers

For landscapers, the best response is not “everything is banned” and it is not “nothing changed.”

Both are wrong.

The smart response is fleet planning.

Start by separating your equipment into three buckets.

First, identify the gas equipment you already own and can realistically run to end of life, assuming it remains allowed in your service areas.

Second, identify tools that are close to replacement anyway. Those are the ones where battery-electric or other zero-emission options should be compared seriously.

Third, identify the problem tools — the loudest blowers, the oldest engines, the tools that trigger complaints, the tools that are hardest to justify in dense neighborhoods, and the tools likely to run into local restrictions.

Then build a transition plan around your actual routes.

A crew maintaining small residential properties in Berkeley, Santa Monica, Los Angeles, or another rule-heavy city may need a very different setup than a rural crew doing larger acreage outside city limits. A one-size-fits-all equipment plan is usually a bad plan.

Practical steps:

• Audit your current equipment by category, model, fuel type, and age.
• Track which cities you service and which ones have local equipment or noise rules.
• Standardize battery platforms where possible.
• Add charging, spare batteries, and backup planning to your route design.
• Train crew leads on local rules, not just equipment use.
• Update proposals so customers know what low-emission or low-noise options you offer.
• Watch rebate and voucher programs, but do not promise customers funding until you confirm the current program status.

The companies that handle this well can turn compliance into a sales advantage.

Electric does not automatically mean quiet

This is one of the biggest Hush Pro points.

AB 1346 is mainly about emissions. It is not a complete noise standard.

Battery-electric tools are often cleaner, usually less harsh than comparable gas equipment, and can be a major improvement for crews and neighborhoods. But “electric” does not always mean “quiet.” A powerful electric blower can still be loud. A high-speed mower blade still makes noise. Operator habits still matter. Time of day still matters.

Low-noise property maintenance is a higher standard than simply swapping gas for battery.

It asks better questions:

• Is this the least disruptive tool that can reasonably do the job?
• Can blower use be reduced instead of just electrified?
• Can grass be bagged or manually finished in sensitive areas?
• Can a manual reel mower work on small, regularly maintained lawns?
• Can crews avoid early-morning service windows in dense neighborhoods?
• Can equipment choices be documented for HOA, city, or neighbor concerns?

That is where California’s emissions transition overlaps with the bigger shift toward low-noise, low-impact property maintenance.

Where Hush Pro fits into this

Hush Pro helps homeowners, property managers, and contractors navigate the move toward low-noise property maintenance.

That includes ordinance guides, equipment education, low-noise service standards, verified partner listings, and sound-level documentation tools for situations where homeowners need clearer records for HOA, neighbor, or local compliance conversations.

For homeowners, that may mean understanding what to ask before hiring a landscaping provider, comparing quieter equipment options, or finding a provider who is already thinking beyond basic gas-to-electric compliance.

For contractors, it may mean standing out as a low-noise, ordinance-aware operator in a market where homeowners and property managers are paying more attention to noise, emissions, and neighborhood disruption.

California AB 1346 is not just a regulation story. It is also a market signal.

The future of property maintenance is cleaner, quieter, better documented, and easier for homeowners to understand.

Are rebates available for electric lawn equipment in California?

Sometimes — but this is an area where you have to be careful.

AB 1346 told CARB to identify and, where feasible, make commercial rebate or similar incentive funding available to help with the transition. CARB and local air districts have supported zero-emission landscaping equipment through incentive programs, including programs aimed at commercial users and small landscaping businesses.

But funding changes fast.

Some programs open and close. Some are statewide. Some are run through local air districts. Some are for commercial landscapers only. Some may be exhausted by the time a reader finds your article.

So the safe advice is this:

Check CARB’s current incentive pages and your local air district before buying equipment. Do not assume a rebate is available until you verify the live program, eligibility rules, approved equipment list, and funding status.

For contractors, it is worth checking before a major fleet purchase. For homeowners, local or regional programs may exist, but availability varies.

A simple way to think about AB 1346

Here is the clean version:

AB 1346 started the rulemaking process. CARB wrote and adopted the small off-road engine regulations. The rules push most new covered equipment toward zero emissions. Existing CARB-compliant gas equipment is not automatically banned from use statewide. Local ordinances can still be stricter. And the equipment market is moving toward battery-electric and other zero-emission options whether people like it or not.

That is the honest answer.

It is not as dramatic as “California banned every gas mower.”

It is also not as dismissive as “nothing changed.”

A lot changed. Just not in the oversimplified way most headlines suggest.

FAQ: California AB 1346 and gas lawn equipment

Did California ban gas lawn equipment?

California did not create a blanket statewide ban on using all existing gas lawn equipment. AB 1346 directed CARB to regulate emissions from new small off-road engines. The biggest impact is on new equipment produced for sale in California, not every tool already owned by homeowners or landscapers.

Can landscapers still use gas leaf blowers in California?

Statewide, existing CARB-compliant equipment can generally continue to be used. But local rules may be stricter. Some cities restrict or ban gas leaf blower use, limit hours, or regulate noise. Landscapers should check the rules for each city they service.

Can homeowners still use a gas lawn mower they already own?

In many cases, yes. AB 1346 does not automatically ban the use of existing CARB-compliant gas equipment statewide. However, homeowners should still check local rules, especially if they live in a city with gas blower restrictions, noise limits, or HOA rules.

Can stores still sell gas lawn equipment in California?

Older models that were manufactured under valid CARB certifications may still be sold. The rule affects new equipment and engine certification going forward, not every older gas-powered product already in the retail pipeline.

What equipment is affected by AB 1346 and CARB’s SORE rules?

Common affected categories include leaf blowers, lawn mowers, riding mowers, string trimmers, hedge trimmers, edgers, log splitters, portable generators, pressure washers, and chainsaws under certain displacement thresholds.

Are generators included?

Portable generators are included, but they have a different phase-in schedule than most lawn and garden tools. CARB’s 2021 amendments move portable generators to zero-emission standards beginning with model year 2028.

Are pressure washers included?

Yes, pressure washers are part of the SORE category, but pressure washers with engines at or above 225 cc have a later phase-in. Those larger pressure washers move to zero-emission standards beginning with model year 2028.

Does electric equipment mean low-noise equipment?

Not automatically. Electric equipment can reduce engine noise and emissions, but loudness still depends on the tool, power setting, task, operator, and local noise rules. Low-noise maintenance is about equipment choice, work habits, scheduling, and documentation — not just fuel type.

What should a homeowner ask a landscaper in California?

Ask what equipment they use, whether gas handheld tools are still part of the service, whether your city has local restrictions, whether the crew has enough battery capacity, and whether lower-noise service options are available for your property.

What should landscapers do in 2026?

Landscapers should audit their equipment, track local city rules, plan battery and charging logistics, look into incentives before major purchases, train crew leads, and update proposals to clearly explain low-emission and low-noise service options.

Final Thoughts

California AB 1346 is real, and it is reshaping the lawn and garden equipment market.

But the accurate version is more useful than the viral version.

California is not sending someone to take every gas mower out of every garage. The state is tightening rules for new small off-road engines and moving the equipment market toward zero emissions. Existing CARB-compliant gas equipment can generally continue to be used, unless a local rule says otherwise.

For homeowners, the next step is to ask better questions before hiring or buying.

For landscapers, the next step is to plan the transition before customers, cities, or competitors force the issue.

And for anyone who cares about neighborhood noise, this is the moment to think beyond emissions alone. The best property maintenance providers will not just be electric. They will be lower-noise, lower-impact, and easier to trust.

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