The City provides the annual service to Raleigh residents who opt to rake leaves from their lawns into piles near the curb (not into the street). Specialized equipment uses a giant vacuum to collect leaves in residential areas.
Raleigh neighborhoods are divided into 12 zones for this service. Crews will start collecting in Zone 10 and continue to the remaining zones as weather and equipment allow. Please check the collection schedule or interactive map on when to place your leaves at the curb for pickup.
Other Impacts: The loose leaf collection program is weather-dependent. Cold, wet weather, especially snow and ice, can tremendously slow or even suspend the program for several days with each occurrence. City staff continually monitors the weather and assess our ability to safely provide services. If collections are suspended or staff is diverted to address snow and ice events or substantial rain events, the collection schedule will be adversely affected.
Alternatives to Loose Leaf Collection: We encourage you to consider using other options to manage leaves:
- Mulching – conserves water, helps prevent weeds, and improves the overall health of your lawn or garden, and also benefits the broader environment.
- Bi-Weekly Yard Waste Collection - As a reminder, residents can utilize their new yard waste carts and up to 15 biodegradable paper bags for leaves as part of their regular yard waste collection.
If you choose to use our loose leaf vacuum collection service, you can get up-to-date schedule information and detailed guidance at raleighnc.gov/leaf, including:
- Yard waste, including loose leaves, generated by the work of a contractor is NOT eligible for curbside collection. Contractors must remove and properly dispose of the yard waste from your property after their work is completed.
- Do not mix sticks or trash in with your leaf piles – they break our equipment.
- Do not rake or blow leaves into the street. Leaf piles in the street are dangerous to motorists and cyclists.
- Leaf piles in the street block storm drains, which could result in flooding.
- Leaf piles should be placed in your yard, typically in the area between the curb and sidewalk, but close enough to the street for the vacuum equipment to reach them; generally, no more than six feet from the edge of the pavement.
- Hold off placing loose leaves at the curb until no more than two weeks prior to the expected arrival of the collection crews in your neighborhood.
If you have questions or concerns, call Raleigh Department of Transportation’s Right of Way Maintenance Division at 919-996-6446 before preparing your leaf pile for collection.