Livingston residents have until Saturday, Dec. 12, to get leaves to the curb for the township's annual collection program, which begins Sunday, Nov. 1.
The township is divided into three sections, each assigned specific weeks to place leaves in the street gutter, according to the township's leaf collection page. Leaves placed outside the scheduled window or after the Dec. 12 deadline may not be picked up. Homeowners would then be responsible for bagging leftover leaves and putting them out with regular garbage, according to Patch.
Here is the 2026 schedule:
Section | Place leaves in gutter | Pickup dates |
|---|---|---|
1 | Nov. 1 – Nov. 8 | Nov. 9 – Nov. 14 |
2 | Nov. 9 – Nov. 15 | Nov. 16 – Nov. 28 |
3 | Nov. 23 – Nov. 29 | Nov. 30 – Dec. 5 |
All sections | Dec. 7 – Dec. 12 | Dec. 14 – Dec. 18 |
The final week covers all three sections because leaves fall at different times depending on weather, Patch reported. Department of Public Works trucks are scheduled to sweep all areas of town during that last round.
Once leaves on a street have been picked up, residents should not place more in the gutter until the next scheduled date. The all-sections Week 4 round is the last chance.
Know your section
The three sections are divided by major roads:
- Section 1: North of East/West Mount Pleasant Avenue.
- Section 2: South of East/West Mount Pleasant Avenue and north of East/West Northfield Road.
- Section 3: South of East/West Northfield Road and West Mount Pleasant Avenue west of the traffic circle.
Residents can look up their section at livingstonnj.org/LeafCollection.
Rules to follow
Grass clippings may not be mixed with leaf piles. Under New Jersey Stormwater Management Rules, leaves must be at least 10 feet from any storm drain inlet and can sit in the gutter no more than seven days before their scheduled pickup, according to Patch.
Violations of the schedule or rules could result in warnings and fines for both the homeowner and their landscaper under Livingston Ordinance Chapter 178, which covers littering.
County and state roads
Residents on Essex County roads and State Highway Route 10 (East/West Mount Pleasant Avenue) cannot place loose leaves at the curb. Leaves on those roads must be placed in paper bags.
The township provides free paper leaf bags at the Public Works Garage, 235 S. Livingston Ave. Bags are available through Monday, Dec. 7. Proof of address is required.
County and state roads in Livingston include Beaufort Avenue, Eisenhower Parkway, South and North Livingston Avenue, East/West Northfield Road, Old Short Hills Road, Passaic Avenue, South Orange Avenue and others. A full list is available on the township website.
Residents with questions can call 973-992-5000, ext. 5522, or submit a concern at livingstonnj.org/ReportAConcern.
