Columbus-Area Curbside Leaf Pickup
Mark Browning
2025/10/01
Who Does What (and When) in 2025
Fallen leaves are part of Central Ohio’s charm. However, those leaves while beautiful on the tree become someone's chore list on the ground. Some local governments vacuum loose leaf piles from the curb; others require bagging with regular yard-waste service. Use the tiles below to see which service your city offers, the 2025 date range window, and the key rules.
How
Place leaves in paper bags or approved yard-waste bins. Service follows your regular yard-waste schedule (no plastic bags).
Notes
- Set out by 6 a.m.- best night before.
- Keep bags/bins clear of trash & recycling containers.
- Bag late-season drops to keep storm drains clear.
How
Crews make three passes citywide, generally moving west → east with multiple crews working different sections. Rake piles to the tree-lawn (grassy strip), not into the street.
Notes
- Keep piles leaf-only; no sticks/brush/rocks.
- Give crews room—avoid parking directly by piles.
How
Set leaves out in paper yard-waste bags or clearly marked containers on your regular yard-waste day
(check the city’s Find My Collection Day tool / color calendar).
Notes
- No loose-leaf curb piles (no city vacuum service).
- Set out by 6–7 a.m.; keep bags/carts separate from trash/recycling.
How
Have leaves out by 7 a.m. Monday of your zone week. Crews vacuum piles along the back of curb; yard-waste bagging is available every Monday as a fallback.
Notes
- No piles in the street; keep piles leaf-only (no sticks/rocks).
- Check the zone map/tracker for progress before setting out.
How
Set leaves out in paper yard-waste bags or clearly marked containers on your yard-waste day. Follow Local Waste/City guidance for set-out time and holiday shifts.
Notes
- No plastic bags. Keep yard-waste separate from trash/recycling.
- Place bags/containers a few feet from other carts for pickup.
How
Have leaves raked to the grassy strip by 7 a.m. Monday of your area’s week. Crews may take the full week to complete each area. Area 1: Oct 20-24. Area 2: Oct 27-31. Area 3: Nov 3-7. Area 4: Nov 10-14.
Notes
- Keep leaves out of the street and gutter.
- After the final round, bag any remaining leaves for regular pickup.
How
Bag leaves in paper yard-waste bags for Monday pickup (through late November) or use the Service Dept’s posted seasonal guidance; winter drop-off is available at the Service Dept on McKinley.
Notes
- Don’t rake piles into the street or over storm drains.
- Check city alerts for any vacuum passes or schedule changes.
How
All four quadrants receive service on scheduled weeks. Have piles out by 7 a.m. Monday of your week; crews work through the area all week.
Notes
- No piles in the street; place at back of curb.
- Bagged yard-waste service runs weekly through late Nov.
How
Contractor vacuums curbside piles for roughly 10 weeks. Have leaves at the curb by 7 a.m. on service days; remove sticks and debris.
Notes
- Keep piles leaf-only; no brush or rocks.
- Do not block piles with parked vehicles.
How
Crews start in Zone 1 on Oct 1 and move through zones in order. Have leaves at the back of the curb by 7 a.m. Monday of your zone week.
Notes
- Keep piles off the pavement and away from drains.
- Use paper bags as a fallback near season end.
How
Two crews (north & south) make repeated passes across the township. Daily progress updates are posted by the Road Department.
Notes
- Rake piles to the edge of your lawn, not into the roadway.
- Keep piles leaf-only to avoid equipment damage.
How
City crews rotate through zones on a posted schedule. Rake piles to the grass verge; have them ready by 7 a.m. Monday of your zone week.
Notes
- Do not place piles in the street or over drains.
- Watch City alerts for your zone’s week and any weather shifts.
Oct 20 – Dec 7
Upper Arlington
Loose-leaf vacuum
How
Rake loose piles to the grass verge (tree-lawn), not into the street. Crews make repeated passes citywide; timing varies by volume/weather.
Notes
- Keep piles clear of parked cars and storm drains.
- No sticks/brush (use brush collection/yard-waste for those).
How
Crews rotate through three zones with repeated passes. Have leaves out by early Monday of your zone week. Use the city’s live tracker to see progress. Zone 1: Oct 6. Zone 2: Oct 13. Zone 3: Oct 20.
Notes
- Place piles behind the curb; do not block storm drains.
- Keep sticks/brush separate (they jam vacuums).
How
Three zones with specific service weeks. Rake piles to the curb (not into the street). Have leaves out by early Monday of your zone week.
Notes
- Leaf-only piles; sticks/brush set out separately.
- Bagging accepted outside zone weeks via yard-waste service.
How
Weekly citywide passes as weather and volume allow. Rake to the tree-lawn (not into the street) by early Monday each week.
Notes
- Leaf-only piles; sticks/brush go to brush collection.
- Missed the pass? Use paper yard-waste bags as backup.
Quick Rules That Show Up Everywhere
- Keep leaves out of the street/gutter. Piles in the street wash into storm drains and harm local waterways; most cities require piles on the grassy strip/tree-lawn only.
- No sticks/brush, rocks, or trash in leaf piles. These damage vacuum equipment and can halt your street’s pickup. (See each city’s leaf page for specifics.)
- Have piles out by early Monday (or collection day). Most zone-based programs make one pass starting Mondays and may take the entire week to finish.
- Bagging remains a backup. If you miss a pass, paper yard-waste bags are accepted in most communities on your yard-waste day.
Best Practices for DIY Leaf Clean-Up
1) Choose the right method for your yard
- Mulch-mow weekly during peak fall: set mower to ~3–3.5", close the mulch plug, and make overlapping passes. Mulched leaves feed turf and reduce hauling.
- Windrow and vacuum for heavy drops: blow leaves into long rows on the lawn, then collect with a mower bagger or a dedicated leaf vac into paper bags or a cart.
- Curb-pile only when your city vacuums. If your community is bag-only (e.g., Columbus proper, Gahanna, Grandview/Marble Cliff), skip piles and bag instead.
Sources:
columbus.gov ·
gahanna.gov ·
grandviewheights.gov
2) Make compliant curb piles (loose-leaf cities)
- Rake to the back of the curb/tree-lawn, not into the street. Keep piles 2–3 ft from parked cars so the vacuum arm can reach.
- Keep sticks/brush separate (chip service or yard-waste day).
- Cover drains, don’t block them: leave a clear channel so rain can move to catch basins.
Source:
dublinohiousa.gov
3) Bagging tips (bag-only cities or after final pass)
- Use biodegradable paper lawn bags (no plastic).
- Don’t overload—roll tops down so crews can lift safely; keep bags dry if possible.
- Set out by your yard-waste start time (6–7 a.m. typical), spaced from trash/recycle carts.
Source:
columbus.gov
4) Timing strategy
- Track your zone and aim for one big set-out the weekend before your scheduled pass; then do a small clean-up before the final pass.
- If a big storm is forecast, mulch-mow ahead of it to keep drains clear.
5) Protect turf & hardscapes
- Don’t let thick leaf mats sit on turf >7–10 days—they smother grass and invite snow mold.
- Use leaf scoops or a grain scoop to load bags without scratching pavers; avoid raking across new seed/overseeding areas.