Lawn care and landscaping in Cary, NC

• Does Cary pick up leaves at the curb?

  The Town of Cary collects loose leaves in three rounds per street, starting in early November, late November and early January. Leaves go at the curb and out of the roadway, loose rather than bagged, and free of sticks. The rest of the year yard waste goes out weekly in reusable containers, paper bags or tied bundles, with limbs under 4 feet long and 4 inches thick. Source: Town of Cary: Loose Leaf Collection.

• What are the lawn watering rules in Cary?

  Cary runs a year-round Alternate Day Watering schedule. Odd-numbered addresses water on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, even-numbered addresses on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Drip irrigation and hand watering are allowed any day, and the Town fines violations. Source: Town of Cary: Alternate Day Watering.

• Can new sod or grass seed be watered every day in Cary?

  Cary offers a 45-day exemption from alternate-day watering for new seed, sod or plugs, and it covers seasonal reseeding. It is limited to one permit per water account per year, so it is worth timing with your overseeding or your sod install. Source: Town of Cary: Watering Permit Application.

• Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Cary?

  Cary's tree protection rules do not apply to trees on existing single-family lots, champion trees included, unless the tree sits in a protected buffer. Buffers of every type are protected, including the 50 and 100 foot buffers along streams. HOA approval may still apply. Source: Town of Cary Land Development Ordinance, Sec. 7.2.5.

• Do I need a permit for a patio or retaining wall in Cary?

  Cary does not require a permit for a patio built at grade as long as it stays at least 5 feet from the property line. Retaining walls need engineering and a permit when they retain more than 5 feet of soil, cross a property line or support a structure. How much of a lot can be covered by hard surface is set by each subdivision's recorded plan. Source: Town of Cary: Residential Permits FAQ.

• Are there rules about where a yard drain can go in Cary?

  In Cary a French drain needs no Town approval unless it ties into the road right-of-way. Connecting a drain to a curb inlet or outlet requires a Minor Encroachment Agreement with the Town. Blocking the natural flow of water across a lot is not allowed under state law. Source: Town of Cary: Drainage FAQ.

We work throughout Cary, including Preston, Lochmere, Kildaire Farms, Amberly, Carpenter Village, Cary Park, Regency Park and Wellington Park, across ZIP codes 27511, 27513, 27518 and 27519.

Local rules change. These were checked against the published guidance from the Town of Cary in October 2026. Confirm with them before you start.