Fall Leaf & Yard Cleanup Pickup in Indianapolis: 2026 Schedule & Pricing
Indianapolis runs a free curbside leaf vacuum program every fall — but the routes are tight, the windows are short, and if you live in an unincorporated township or HOA-managed neighborhood, you're often skipped entirely. Here's the actual 2026 schedule and what it costs to haul leaves yourself if the city missed your block.
Heads up
Indy DPW publishes ward-by-ward leaf pickup dates in mid-October. Crews make ONE pass per ward — if your leaves aren't curbside that week, you wait until the next year or pay for haul-away.
Indianapolis 2026 leaf pickup zones
Indy DPW's vacuum program covers the old township boundaries inside Marion County. Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, Greenwood, and Zionsville each run their own programs (most are bag-only, no vacuum). Always confirm the current schedule on your municipality's site before raking to the curb — putting leaves out too early can earn you a Right-of-Way violation.
Bagged leaf haul-away pricing (when the city skips you)
| Volume | What it looks like | Haul-away price |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 20 bags | Half-suburban yard | $149 – $199 |
| 20–50 bags | Standard ¼-acre lot | $219 – $299 |
| 50–100 bags | Half-acre with mature trees | $329 – $449 |
| Loose pile (no bags) | We'll tarp and load | Add $50 to bag pricing |
Free options before you call us
- Compost: several Marion County yard-waste dropoffs accept bagged leaves free or cheap with proof of residency — call ahead to confirm current hours and fees
- Mulch in place: a mulching mower turns leaves into lawn fertilizer in two passes
- Neighborhood swap: many Indy gardeners on Nextdoor will pick up bagged leaves for compost
- Indy Parks: a few parks accept clean leaf donations for trail-side composting
Storm cleanup and downed limbs
Downed-limb cleanup after Indy windstorms is a separate quote — we charge by truckload, not bag count, since limbs don't compress. A typical ¼-truck of branches under 4 inches diameter runs $249–$329. Anything thicker requires a chainsaw cut on-site (+$100).
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Related Indianapolis guides
When is the 2026 Indianapolis leaf vacuum schedule released?
Indy DPW typically releases the ward-by-ward schedule in mid-October. Sign up for ward email alerts on indy.gov to get the date your block is on the route.
Can I burn leaves in Indianapolis?
No. Open burning of leaves is banned within Marion County limits and most surrounding suburbs. Townships outside the burn ban require a permit and a 50-ft setback from any structure.
Do you take leaves in paper bags only, or plastic too?
Either. We strip and recycle the bags at the compost facility. Indy DPW only accepts paper bags for their vacuum routes — that's a city rule, not ours.
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