OAK BAY, B.C. — Gas-powered leaf blowers and other landscaping tools fuelled by gas will soon be banned in the Vancouver Island District of Oak Bay.

Councillors have voted unanimously in favour of a ban on the noisy, fume-producing tools, including chainsaws and lawn mowers.

Users, from homeowners to professional landscaping companies, will have three years to phase out gas-powered items.

Staff must submit a report to council within the next month providing recommendations for a new bylaw and proposals for education and enforcement.

Gas-powered leaf blowers have been banned in parts of Vancouver's West End for more than 20 years and council passed a motion in January to phase out all gas-powered landscaping tools by 2024.

The District of Saanich also flirted with a ban on leaf blowers last year but the motion failed and the issued was referred to committee for further work.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2022.

(With files from CTV Vancouver Island)

The Canadian Press