Livingston's 2026 leaf collection runs Nov. 1 through Dec. 18, with the township divided into three pickup sections and specific dates for each.

The township has released its 2026 Leaf Collection Program schedule, assigning staggered street-placement and pickup windows by zone. Residents who put leaves in the gutter outside their section's designated dates risk fines under state stormwater rules. The township's own littering ordinance, Chapter 198, also applies.

Section 1 covers the area north of East and West Mount Pleasant Avenue. Leaves may go in the street Nov. 1–8, with pickup Nov. 9–14.

Section 2 covers the area south of East and West Mount Pleasant Avenue and north of East and West Northfield Road. Street placement runs Nov. 9–15, with pickup Nov. 16–28.

Section 3 covers the area south of East and West Northfield Road and West Mount Pleasant Avenue west of the traffic circle. Street placement runs Nov. 23–29, with pickup Nov. 30 through Dec. 5.

Week 4 is a townwide sweep. All three sections may place leaves in the street Dec. 7–12, with pickup Dec. 14–18. Dec. 12 is the last day any resident may put leaves curbside.

Before a section's designated window opens, leaves should stay on the lawn at the curb line. Once a section's pickup is complete, no more leaves go in the street until the Week 4 window.

County and state roads require bags

Residents on Essex County roads and state Route 10 (Mount Pleasant Avenue) cannot rake leaves into the gutter at all. Those leaves must be bagged.

The township is offering free paper leaf bags to residents on those roads at the Department of Public Works (DPW) garage, 235 S. Livingston Ave., from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Proof of address is required.

Other roads where bagging is mandatory include South and North Livingston Avenue, Eisenhower Parkway, South Orange Avenue, Northfield Road, Old Short Hills Road, Beaufort Avenue and Walnut Street, among others.

Bagged-leaf collection on county and state roads begins Nov. 1 and runs once per week through the season.

Fines possible for early placement

New Jersey's stormwater management rules require leaves to stay at least 10 feet from any storm drain or catch basin. Leaves may sit in the gutter no more than seven days before a scheduled pickup, according to the West Essex Tribune. The township is required to enforce those rules, and both homeowners and their landscape contractors can be cited.

Residents who use a landscaper should share the schedule and placement rules with that contractor.

Leaves placed out after the program ends become the homeowner's responsibility to bag and set out with regular trash.

The full schedule, a printable flyer and answers to common questions are available on the township's leaf collection page. Residents can also call 973-992-5000, ext. 5522.