Rock Hill, SC Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Leaf pickup months
- November, December, January curbside
- February leaves
- By appointment with public works
- Yard waste set-out
- Noon day before to 7 a.m. pickup day
- Cart removal
- By noon the day after collection
- Special pickup threshold
- Over 12 ft long or 6 in thick
- Contractor penalty
- $500 per day civil fine
Summary
Rock Hill runs curbside leaf-truck pickup only in November, December and January, plus February by appointment; the rest of the year loose leaves go bagless into the yard-waste cart. Limbs and brush over 12 feet long or six inches thick need a scheduled special pickup, and debris from large tree removal or land clearing never goes curbside.
Leaves shall be raked to the edge of the street for collection by leaf trucks on a schedule determined by the public works director only during the months of November, December, and January. During the month of February, leaves will be collected from curb only after the householder schedules for leaf collection service with the public works department. Accumulation during remaining months shall be placed at the curb in a mobile container without bagging to be collected on regular solid waste collection schedule as provided in section 17-64. ... Yard waste shall be placed into a designated mobile container for collection at the curb. The mobile container shall be set out no earlier than noon the day preceding pick-up and no later than 7:00 a.m. the day of pick-up. ... Yard waste which exceeds 12 feet in length and/or six inches in diameter shall not be removed by city crews unless arrangements for special collection have been made in advance with the public works department.
Full Breakdown
Section 17-65 splits leaf collection from general yard waste. Leaves get raked to the edge of the street for pickup by leaf trucks on a schedule the public works director sets, but only during November, December and January. In February, curb leaf collection happens only after the householder schedules it with public works. Every other month, leaves have to go loose into a mobile container, kept separate from other debris, and they can never be placed at the curb in bags; blowing leaves or yard waste into the public street or a stormwater conveyance system is separately unlawful.
the day of, then removed by noon the day following collection with four feet of clearance around it. Tree limbs and brush, other than grass, leaves or pine straw, need advance arrangement with public works no later than noon the day before the regular garbage collection to go out for special pickup, and debris from large tree removal or land clearing is never accepted curbside. Once brush exceeds 12 feet in length or six inches in diameter, city crews won't remove it without that advance arrangement, and an Appendix A fee applies to the special service. Land-clearing debris and yard waste generated by contracted work are excluded from city collection altogether.
Violations & Fines
A tree removal contractor who violates section 17-65 faces a civil penalty of $500.00 for the initial violation and for each day the violation continues, and the city can issue a civil summons against the contractor without first sending a notice of violation. Separately, any householder whose noncompliance forces the city to send out an extra crew to clean up and remove yard waste or land-clearing debris left at the curb is charged a service fee under the Appendix A fee schedule for that cleanup.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Rock Hill pick up loose leaves at the curb?
Can I bag my leaves for pickup?
What about tree limbs and brush?
Is there a penalty for leaving tree debris improperly?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rock Hill
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