Lawn care and landscaping in Raleigh, NC

• Does Raleigh pick up leaves at the curb?

  Raleigh ended its loose-leaf vacuum collection in September 2026 and replaced it with weekly yard waste pickup. Leaves now go in the 95-gallon yard waste cart or in paper biodegradable bags, not in piles at the curb. The City does not collect yard waste from contracted jobs, so a cleanup crew has to haul what it collects. Source: City of Raleigh: Leaf Collection Options.

• What are the lawn watering rules in Raleigh?

  Raleigh Water currently has no mandatory watering days. Its standing guidance is to irrigate no more than one inch per week and never onto pavement. When a drought stage is declared the rules tighten quickly, so check the current stage before setting an irrigation schedule. Source: Raleigh Water: Conservation and Efficiency.

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

  Raleigh Water has no mandatory watering days in normal conditions, so new sod and seed can be watered as often as establishment needs. Under a declared Stage 1 shortage, in-ground irrigation drops to one day a week and new landscape establishment permits are not issued, so check the current stage before a large install. Source: Raleigh Water: Conservation Stages.

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

  Raleigh's tree conservation rules apply to sites of 2 acres or more, so most single-family lots fall outside them. The exception is any City tree in the street right-of-way: pruning or removing one needs a Tree Impact Permit, and the right-of-way is not a fixed distance from the curb. If a tree sits between the sidewalk and the street, check with the City's Urban Forestry program first. Source: City of Raleigh: Tree Impact Permit.

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

  In Raleigh patios, decks and compacted gravel all count toward a lot's impervious surface limit. For lots of an acre or less created before May 2001 that limit runs from 20 to 65 percent depending on zoning, and newer lots follow their recorded plat. Standard permeable pavers count in full unless the system is engineered, and walls cannot be built in a drainage easement. Source: City of Raleigh: Stormwater for Residential Lots.

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

  Raleigh does not allow walls or fences in drainage easements, and grading that uncovers more than 12,000 square feet needs an erosion control plan. Most residential drainage fixes are far smaller than that, but the easement lines on your plat decide where a drain or dry creek bed can go. Source: City of Raleigh: Residential Properties and Drainage.

In Raleigh we cover the west and southwest side of the city, the neighborhoods closest to Apex and Cary, mainly ZIP codes 27606 and 27607.

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