Florida's new law restricts local bans on gas-powered gardening tools

Gardeners in Florida are facing a significant shift in their operational landscape with new regulations taking effect on July 1, 2026. Governor Ron DeSantis has signed Senate Bill 290, a law that alters how local governments can regulate the use of gasoline-powered gardening equipment.

The core of SB 290 prohibits Florida counties and municipalities from restricting or establishing different requirements for gasoline-powered gardening machinery compared to electric or other technologies. This means local ordinances or administrative policies can no longer mandate the mandatory replacement of gas-powered tools.

The law specifically defines gasoline-powered gardening equipment as any machine powered by an internal combustion engine that uses gasoline, diesel, or a gas-oil mix, intended for landscape maintenance or clearing debris. This definition encompasses a wide array of tools commonly used by professionals in the sector.

While the legislation protects the use of gasoline-powered equipment, it does not prevent local governments from encouraging the adoption of alternative energy sources. However, the central change is the limitation placed on local authorities' power to ban or impose distinct regulatory treatments on these traditional tools solely based on their fuel source.