Did you know that the dust in the air can be unhealthy to you and your loved ones? Dust particles are so small that they can pass through your throat and nose and into your lungs, and may even get into the bloodstream. To improve air quality in Maricopa County, the State of Arizona passed a new air quality law that required cities and Maricopa County to adopt local dust ordinances by March 31, 2008. In compliance with the state law, the city of Glendale passed a Fugitive Dust Ordinance in March 2008 that includes the following:
- Prohibits the use of leaf-blowers to move landscape materials into a public roadway at any time.
- Effective October 1, 2008, property owners shall not allow parking, maneuvering, or entry/exit areas serving commercial, industrial, or more than four residential-units unless the surface is maintained with a dust-proof method.
- Effective October 1, 2009, property owners shall not allow parking, maneuvering, or entry/exit areas that are 3,000 square feet or greater in size that serve residential buildings with four or less units unless the surface is permanently maintained with a dustproof method.
- Parking or vehicle use on an unpaved vacant lot is not allowed unless the surface utilized is an excepted property or is permanently maintained with a dustproof method.
- Operation of a vehicle on any unpaved surface that is closed by the landowner by proper posting or by rule or regulation is not allowed.
For more information:
Glendale dust ordinance – view New Dust Control brochure or call the Code Compliance Department at 623-930-3610
General air quality issues - Environmental Resources Department or call 623-930-2580
Dust at construction sites should be reported to: http://www.maricopa.gov/aq/contact_us/report_violation.aspx or call 602-372-2703
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Leaf blower usage and guidelines: http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/prevent/index.html#blower
