In 2019, City Council passed an ordinance prohibiting the use of gas-powered leaf blowers which:

• Prohibits the use of all gas-powered leaf blowers citywide as of January 2020
• Allows for the use of electric or battery-powered leaf blowers
• Requires responsible use of blower equipment to control dust and noise
• Restricts leaf blower hours of operation to between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and between 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Sundays

A transition away from fossil-fuel based off-road equipment is one of the City's strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions identified in the Climate Action Plan (CAP). The benefits of prohibiting gas-powered leaf blowers include avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), decreased noise levels, and a reduction in suspended dust, allergens, and other harmful particulates.

According to the City's CAP, it is estimated that the Leaf Blower Ordinance will reduce local GHG emissions by 128 metric tons of CO2 emissions (MTCO2e) by the end of 2020, and 142 metric tons by 2030.

Enforcement 

If you observe the use of a gas-powered leaf blower or any blower being used outside the allowable operation window, community complaints may be filed by using the MyEncinitas app or completing the Citizen Complaint Form. The City’s Code Enforcement Division will follow up with all complaints in a timely manner.  

Additional Information and Resources

English/Spanish Leaf Blower Ordinance FAQ Flyer

English Version of the Leaf Blower Ordinance

Spanish Version of the Leaf Blower Ordinance

English/Spanish outreach postcard for residents or anyone to print and use for notifying landscapers or other potential gas-powered leaf blower users about this ordinance. 

Leaf Blower Ordinance No. 2019-06  

On February 9, 2022, the Encinitas City Council adopted Ordinance 2022-01 titled “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Encinitas, California, adding Chapter 11.30 to the Encinitas Municipal Code Prohibiting the Use, Sale and Distribution of Balloons Filled with a Gas Lighter Than Air.” The ordinance includes the following key provisions:

• “No Person, including, but not limited to, a balloon wholesaler, retailer, or third-party vendor, shall use, sell, or distribute any type of Balloon inflated with any Gas Lighter Than Air within the City, either as a separate item or included in a packaged product set, including at any City Facility or City-Sponsored Event.”

• “No Person shall dispose of any Balloon inflated with any Gas Lighter Than Air within the City in any manner, including release outdoors into the air, other than in a trash container.”

Background

On May 13, 2021, the City’s Environmental Commission passed a recommendation to the City Council to adopt a Resolution and Ordinance to regulate the sale, use, distribution, and release of all lighter than air filled balloons in the City of Encinitas. More information regarding these actions can be found on the Agendas & Webcasts page.

Enforcement 

If you observe the use of a gas-powered leaf blower or any blower being used outside the allowable operation window, community complaints may be filed by using the MyEncinitas app or completing the Citizen Complaint Form. The City’s Code Enforcement Division will follow up with all complaints in a timely manner.  

What is Organic Waste?

Organic waste is any material that is biodegradable and comes from either a plant or an animal. Organic waste, including food and green waste, takes up the largest portion of waste in our landfills, making up 30% of our waste stream. When in landfills, organic waste decomposes anaerobically, without exposure to oxygen.  This produces methane as a byproduct, one of the most potent greenhouse gases, along with other odorous and noxious gases. Reducing organic waste in landfills by food waste prevention, composting, and organics recycling reduces methane emissions, extends the life of local landfills, and creates valuable products such as renewable natural gas and fertilizer.

Organics Recycling Program

In compliance with the statewide Organics Recycling Bill SB1383, Encinitas residents are required to place both food scraps and yard waste in their green bins. EDCO completed construction of a state-of-the-art anaerobic digestion (AD) facility to process organic waste.  Diverting organic waste is critical for meeting the City’s greenhouse gas reduction and waste diversion goals. 

The City of Encinitas, EDCO, and Solana Center for Environmental Innovation created the following resources to make the transition to collecting food waste more convenient for residents:

• Organics Recycling Resource Sheet - What Should go in the Green Bin?
• Organics Recycling Program - FAQ Flyer
• Organics Recycling Program - FAQ Full List
• EDCO's Organics Recycling - What You Need to Know
• EDCO - Organics and Anaerobic Digestion Video

Recursos en español:

• ¿Qué debe ponerse en el bote verde?
• Programa de Reciclaje de Residuos Orgánicos Preguntas Frecuentes (FAQs)
• Programa de Reciclaje de Residuos Orgánicos Preguntas Frecuentes (FAQs) - lista completa

 Find out more here

New smoking rules took effect within the City of Encinitas on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, banning smoking and vaping in all public places. This law follows in the footsteps of many other Southern California communities, including Santa Barbara, Beverly Hills and Manhattan Beach. The goal of the regulation is to reduce waste, protect the environment, and limit secondhand smoke exposure to the public. The code can be found here: E.M.C. Chapter 11.08. 

Summary of E.M.C. Chapter 11.08: 

Smoking and Vaping is NOT Allowed:  

Smoking and Vaping is Allowed:  

Smoking and vaping waste must be disposed of in specifically designed containers for smoking waste.  

About Enforcement 

The City and Sheriff Department provided extensive education to Encinitas businesses and community members about the new smoking rules after it was adopted in 2023. E.M.C 11.08 is enforced by the Sheriff Department. Those found in violation of the code may be issued a Notice to Appear or Administrative Citation. Fines may range from $50 to $1,000, depending on the nature of the violation. Complaints of observed smoking in a public place can be reported to the North Coastal Sheriff Station non-emergency hotline at (858) 565-5200. 

Why This Law is Important 

The potential beneficial environmental impact of this ordinance is vast. Cigarette butts, including filters, are the number one waste item found in beach cleans ups in San Diego County and tobacco waste is one of the main sources of marine plastic pollution worldwide. By implementing these changes, the City of Encinitas aims to eliminate toxic waste and further contribute to the beautification of the city.  

In addition to the positive environmental effects this ordinance can create, it will also help alleviate the negative effects of secondhand smoking. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found the effects of secondhand smoke are a health risk to the public and therefore classified it as a “group A carcinogen”, the most dangerous class of toxin. The City of Encinitas is concerned about the potential health effects this could have on the community and this was one of City Council’s main reasons for passing the law.  

Frequently Asked Questions

Please read the FAQ for more information about the ordinance.

Recursos en español: 

Información en español

Lea las preguntas frecuentes para obtener más información sobre la ordenanza. 

The City of Encinitas has identified plastic pollution as an environmental concern. It’s the number one source of debris found at local beaches during volunteer clean-ups! Plastic bottles, caps, straws, and utensils are polluting waterways and beaches – and threatening valuable local resources.

City Council has passed a total of three (3) ordinances to address specific plastic pollution sources including plastic straws, plastic utensils, plastic beverage containers, and expanded polystyrene products.

Find out more here