Bowie home services, fall 2026

Bowie Leaf Collection 2026: Schedule, Rules and What the County Does

The City of Bowie’s fall vacuum leaf collection started the week of October 26, 2026 and runs through the week of December 14. Here’s how it works, how to find your week, and what to do if your Bowie address is outside city limits.

First: are you inside City of Bowie limits?

Plenty of homes with a Bowie mailing address are not in the City of Bowie. Mitchellville, Woodmore and parts of Fairwood, for example, are mostly in unincorporated Prince George’s County, and the county handles their yard waste differently. Look up your address in the City’s Residency Checker, which shows your neighborhood and collection days. More on the line in our City of Bowie limits guide.

City of Bowie vacuum leaf collection

  • Collection weeks: October 26, November 2, November 9, November 16, November 23, November 30, December 7 and December 14, 2026. Each eligible neighborhood gets two collections.
  • Find your two weeks: use the “Schedule by Neighborhood” or “Schedule by Week” tabs on the City’s Leaf Collection page, or the Residency Checker. For example, Ashleigh is the weeks of October 26 and November 16, and Buckingham is November 2 and November 30.
  • Set out: rake loose leaves into a pile at the curb, not in the street, by 7 a.m. on the Monday of your week.
  • Keep it clear: piles that aren’t at the curb or are blocked by parked cars get skipped, and crews don’t come back.
  • Holiday weeks: Veterans Day (November 11) and Thanksgiving (November 26 and 27) affect those two weeks.
  • Partial coverage: townhomes in Enfield Chase and South Lake are excluded, only the City portion of Adnell Woods is covered, and Colt’s Neck uses a designated spot on Race Track Road.
  • Leftover leaves: put them in brown paper yard bags at the curb on Wednesday with regular yard waste.
  • Questions: Public Works, Streets Division, 301-809-2344, weekdays 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

City yard waste rules (all year)

  • Collected every Wednesday. Set out after 5 p.m. Tuesday and before 7 a.m. Wednesday.
  • Brown paper bags only. No plastic bags, and don’t use blue recycling bins.
  • Loose yard waste in a container of 50 pounds or less.
  • Branches up to 3 inches across and 4 feet long, tied in bundles of 50 pounds or less.
  • Christmas trees are collected in January only, with lights and decorations removed.

For trash days, recycling, bulk items and holiday changes, see the Bowie trash and recycling schedule.

Outside city limits: Prince George’s County yard trim

  • For homes with County-contracted trash service, yard trim and leaves are collected on Mondays. Set out by 6 a.m.
  • Use heavy-duty paper yard bags, a lidded can, or the County’s 32-gallon green Organics cart. Plastic bags and cardboard boxes aren’t accepted.
  • Limbs 4 feet or shorter and 3 inches or less across, tied in bundles.
  • Bags under 60 pounds dry, under 25 pounds wet.
  • Christmas trees are collected December through January.
  • Questions or special pickups: call 311 or 301-883-4748, or use PGC311.

Source: Prince George’s County yard trim collection.

Getting the yard ready to sell?

Fall listings photograph best with the leaves cleared and the beds edged. If you’re thinking about selling this winter or spring, Bruno will send a written value range from the closest recent sales, plus what’s worth fixing first.

Get my value range

Quick answers

When is leaf collection in Bowie in 2026?

The City of Bowie’s vacuum leaf collection runs the weeks of October 26 through December 14, 2026. Each eligible neighborhood gets two of those weeks. Check your weeks on the City’s Leaf Collection page.

Where do I put leaves for Bowie leaf pickup?

Rake loose leaves into a pile at the curb, not in the street, by 7 a.m. on the Monday of your collection week.

Can I put leaves in plastic bags in Bowie?

No. The City and the County both require paper yard bags. Plastic bags are not accepted.

My address says Bowie. Does the City collect my leaves?

Only if you are inside City of Bowie limits. Check your address in the City’s Residency Checker. Homes outside city limits follow Prince George’s County yard trim rules.

Sources: City of Bowie Leaf Collection and Yard Waste pages, and Prince George’s County yard trim rules, as of October 29, 2026. Schedules can change, so confirm with the City or County. Bruno Tarquinii, REALTOR®, Fairfax Realty Premier. Equal Housing Opportunity.