The millions of leaves blanketing Metro Vancouver streets usually make a beautiful seasonal display. But with a series of rainstorms drenching B.C.’s South Coast, the picturesque streets can quickly turn into a soggy, slippery mess.

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Many municipalities are ramping up seasonal leaf collection programs and reminders for residents to do their part.

Leaves that accumulate on sidewalks and streets can pose a hazard to pedestrians, cyclists and drivers, while leaves around catch basins and storm drains can also obstruct the flow of water, causing pooling and localized flooding.

Different cities tackle leaf collection differently.

Some cities, like Surrey, allow residents to put out additional yard waste alongside their regular green carts for collection.

Others offer a period of free yard-waste collection.

Coquitlam, for example, offers six weeks of unlimited yard-waste collection twice a year, allowing residents to put out extra leaves, grass clippings and branches for pickup at no additional cost.

Vancouver, on the other hand, offers additional leaf collection on one weekend a month, giving residents an opportunity to dispose of leaves that won’t fit in their regular green bins.

In 2021, Vancouver collected more than 1,000 tonnes of seasonal organics, including leaves and Christmas trees. It also collected more than 6,400 tonnes from citywide street leaf sweeping. More updated figures from 2025 note that the city collected 815 tonnes of leaves through the city’s residential leaf bag fall collection.

Here’s what Vancouver residents need to know about handling the green (and yellow, red and brown) stuff:

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What are your responsibilities as a property owner?

Unlike snow removal, Vancouver homeowners aren’t required to clear fallen leaves from sidewalks bordering their properties.

However, the city encourages residents and businesses to rake leaves from sidewalks and boulevards and to keep nearby storm drains clear.

Residents shouldn’t rake or blow leaves onto streets or sidewalks. Doing so may result in a fine.

What should you do with your leaves?

Leaves can be disposed of in green bins as part of the city’s weekly collection

For extra leaves that don’t fit, residents can use paper yard-waste bags and put them out for collection on designated extra leaf pickup weekends.

Residents can also drop off leaves and yard trimmings at the Vancouver South transfer station or the Vancouver landfill in Delta. Disposal fees apply.

There are also ways to put fallen leaves to good use around the yard: Leaves can be used for compost or as mulch in garden beds to suppress weeds, retain moisture and protect plants from the winter cold.

When are Vancouver’s extra leaf collection dates?

Vancouver has scheduled additional leaf collection on three weekends this fall and winter, with dates depending on where residents live.

Future dates include Nov. 14 and 15 and Dec. 12 and 13 for residents in the north collection zone, and Nov. 28 and 29 and Dec. 26 and 27 for those in the south collection zone.

The city does an additional pickup on Jan. 11, 2027, in both zones for Christmas tree collection.

You can check your dates by entering your address here.

When does the city clean up the streets?

Vancouver typically begins its seasonal street-cleaning program in mid-November, with crews working through January to clear fallen leaves from roads.

Residents will see temporary no-stopping signs posted along neighbourhood streets.

The city uses front-end loaders to collect most of the leaves from streets, usually followed by a street sweeper.

How can you help keep storm drains clear?

Vancouver encourages residents to help keep catch basins clear of leaves, snow, debris and litter year-round to prevent clogged basins and reduce the risk of localized flooding.

Fall, when trees are shedding their leaves, is a good time to check, as well as before and after heavy rain.

Residents can also participate in the city’s Adopt a Catch Basin program, which allows volunteers to register and take responsibility for keeping a particular storm drain clear. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the program.

“Every volunteer who has adopted a catch basin has reduced the risk of flooding and built our capacity to manage more frequent and intense rainfall,” said Mayor Pete Fry in a statement acknowledging the program this week. “Thank you to everyone who has made this program such a success.”

Of the about 40,000 catch basins available for adoption across Vancouver, about 32,000 are unadopted. The downtown, Mount Pleasant and Kitsilano neighbourhoods have a higher number of basins available for adoption than other parts of the city.

chchan@postmedia.com