Think Twice Before Blowing Those Leaves! Yakima’s Leaf Rules Might Surprise You

Have you seen more and more yards in Yakima with leaves still on the ground, not being raked up or taken care of?

Maybe it's hard to rake when the leaves are all wet from the recent rain we've been getting, or perhaps your leaf blower can't blow wet leaves very efficiently, but all of that aside, is it legal to just not take care of your leaves?

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Can you not worry about it and not get in trouble for it?

Yakima Laws about Raking Leaves on your Own Property

To put simply, there's no law against it.
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Sure, it may be an eyesore, but there's no law saying you have to rake your leaves.

There is, however, some rules about how you take care of those leaves.

How to take care of your leaves in Yakima

The leaves in your own yard, that's perfect fine.
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If your leaves get onto the city streets or sidewalk, that's when it becomes and issue for the city of Yakima.

Chapter 6.56.050 requires residents to keep leaves out of the street, alley or public place.
Chapter 8.76.025 extends the restriction to public rights-of-way such as sidewalks and gutters.

Much like how you have to shovel the snow on your own sidewalk, same with taking care of your own leaves.

If there was an accident, like if someone slipped and fell due to leaves, you may be liable.

And the same with the city streets. Much like how you can't shovel snow and put it onto the streets, you can't blow your leaves into the street.

The City of Yakima does provide some solutions to help.