Home / Guides / GCC for walk-behind lawn mowers (16 CFR Part 1205)
Last reviewed: September 2026 · Copy link
GCC for walk-behind lawn mowers (16 CFR Part 1205)
What part 1205 requires
- A blade-contact protection system: the blade must stop or be shielded within specified time when the operator leaves the controls.
- Permanently affixed certification labels and foot-contact warning markings in the specified format.
- Compliance is certified per model — engine variants can create new models.
Certification and records
Part 1205 allows certification based on a reasonable testing program run by the manufacturer, or third-party testing. Either way the GCC must identify the certifying party with a US contact and be supported by records that show each production run meets the standard. Ride-on mowers are outside part 1205 — different product family.
Questions people ask
Do gas and electric mowers both need the GCC?
Yes: the rule applies to walk-behind power mowers regardless of power source, with test clauses adapted to the design.
Are ride-on tractors covered?
No: part 1205 covers walk-behind mowers. Ride-on products are outside this rule, though other requirements may apply.
What records support the GCC?
A reasonable testing program file: periodic production samples, results, and corrective actions. Keep them for at least five years alongside the certificate.
Related guides
General Certificate of Conformity (GCC)
A General Certificate of Conformity (GCC) certifies that non-children’s consumer products meet CPSC rules. Whe…
GCC testing requirements
What testing supports a General Certificate of Conformity: when CPSC rules require third-party testing at an a…
General Certificate of Conformity template
A free, fillable General Certificate of Conformity template with the required GCC elements and CPSC rule citat…