Bowling Green residents can start raking leaves to the curb. City crews plan to begin loose leaf pickup in Zone 1 on Monday, Nov. 23, and finish in Zone 10 on Dec. 28, according to WBKO and the city's Public Works Department.
The city's leaf pickup page calls the Zone 1 date tentative and says the whole schedule is "subject to change at any time." WBKO reported that snow removal can push pickup back because "the same crews handle both services."
The Schedule
The city's Public Works Department lists these start dates for 2026, and WBKO reported the same dates:
- Zone 1: Nov. 23 (tentative)
- Zone 2: Nov. 30
- Zone 3: Dec. 3
- Zone 4: Dec. 7
- Zone 5: Dec. 10
- Zone 6: Dec. 14
- Zone 7: Dec. 16
- Zone 8: Dec. 21
- Zone 9: Dec. 23
- Zone 10: Dec. 28
The city says crews do not collect leaves on holidays. If snow postpones pickup, the city says it will collect leaves in skipped zones "as time permits." The full schedule is also posted on the city's events calendar at bgky.org/events.
Find Your Zone
The city's leaf pickup page has a zone lookup. Enter your street address without the city, state or ZIP code. The city also posts leaf pickup information on Government Access Channel 4, and residents can call Citizen Information and Assistance at 270-393-3444.
Corner lots can fall in two zones. The city says crews collect from the edge of each city street a home faces, so a corner property's two sides may have different pickup dates.
How to Set Out Leaves
The city's Public Works Department gives these rules:
- Rake leaves to the edge of the street before your zone's first scheduled pickup day. If crews collect on your street on the first day, they will not come back on later days.
- Do not put leaves on sidewalks, in the street or gutter, or around fire hydrants, mailboxes, guy wires or parked cars. Do not let them block drainage. The city says this violates city ordinances and can lead to civil fines.
- Keep piles free of tree limbs, rocks, household trash, furniture, tires and other debris.
- Crews do not go onto private property such as driveways or backyards.
The city says crews do not collect leaves from commercial properties, private subdivisions, private alleys or roadways, or mobile home parks. If crews skip a pile on purpose, the city says they will leave an orange door hanger with an explanation and a contact number. Where parked cars block pickup, the city says it may close a street to parking with 72 hours' notice.
Before You Rake
If you miss your zone's pickup, the city says to call Citizen Information and Assistance at 270-393-3444 to get on its "ALIBI LIST." Crews will come back "as time permits." The city also asks residents not to call the police department about leaf pickup.
The city's 2026 leaf pickup page does not cover bagged leaves or a leaf drop-off site. Residents who want either option should check with the city before setting out bags. The Public Works Department lists 270-393-3363 for fall leaf pickup questions.
