Sidewalk Snow Removal Requirements | All residential and commercial property owners are required by law to remove snow and ice from the sidewalks around their properties within the first eight hours of daylight after a snow storm ends.

The Department of Public Works enforces the “Winter Sidewalk Safety Rules” by citing residential and commercial property owners who have not cleared their sidewalks within 24 hours after the storm ends. Residential property owners may be fined $25 and commercial property owners may be fined $150.

Snow Removal Enforcement Exemption | Residential property owners who live in their own homes and are 65 years old and/or persons with disabilities may be exempt from sidewalk shoveling enforcement.

Eligible residents must apply to the Department of Public Works to receive the exemption. The current two-year exemption runs from November 1, 2021-March 31, 2023. To apply, please click here. The deadline to apply was November 1, 2021.

Once approved, residents must apply every other year to the Department of Public Works to continue to receive the exemption. Residents who received an exemption in 2021 should reapply in 2023 to remain exempt.

If you missed the deadline, don’t worry: you can still request free snow shoveling assistance from ServeDC. See the next section.

Snow Removal Assistance for Seniors and Disabled Residents | Seniors over age 60 and disabled residents are eligible to request free snow removal assistance from ServeDC by calling ServeDC at 202-727-7925, or by simply calling 311.

Volunteer with ServeDC to Help Your Neighbors | ServeDC’s Volunteer Snow Team invites residents to volunteer to help remove snow for their neighbors. For more information on how to sign up, please visit here.

DPW Leaf Collection Service | The Department of Public Works (DPW) is collecting raked leaves November through January. During the 2022-23 leaf collection season, all parts of SMD 5B05 are on the same leaf collection schedule. The first leaf collection will occur from November 7-12 (rake leaves into your tree box by Sunday, November 6). The second leaf collection will occur from December 5-17 (rake leaves into your tree box by Sunday, December 4).

If leaves on your street have not been collected for five or more days after they were scheduled to be collected, please call 311 (202-737-4404) or visit 311.dc.gov to open a “Leaf Collection Missed” service request.

Click here for answers to FAQs about DPW’s leaf collection program.

DIY Leaf Compost + Mulch | Instead of raking leaves for collection, residents can use leaves for home composting, or to mulch trees and plants.

Assistance for Seniors and Disabled Residents | According to DPW, seniors over age 65 and disabled residents may request assistance with leaf raking from ServeDC by calling 311.

Free Compost for DC Residents | Leaves picked up during leaf collection will be composted. DC residents can pick up free compost from the Fort Totten Transfer Station from March through October.

Trash + Recycling | In SMD 5B05, the Department of Public Works (DPW) collects trash and recycling on Wednesdays from single-family homes and residences with three or fewer units.

What’s Trash? | Find out what goes in the trash.

What’s Recyclable? | Find out what goes in recycling. Bin it, don’t bag it! Recyclables should be dumped in your bin loosely or in a paper bag. Do not bin recyclables in plastic bags—they may be rejected.

Missed Collection | If DPW misses you on your regular collection date, call or text 311 or submit a request online to schedule a missed trash collection pick-up.

Plastic Bags | DPW no longer recycles plastic bags, which clog recycling machinery and cause operational delays and safety hazards for workers. However, plastic bags may be dropped off for recycling at the following nearby retailers:

• Giant | 1050 Brentwood Rd NE DC

• Giant | 300 H St NE DC

• Target | 1515 New York Ave NE DC

• Walmart | 99 H St NW DC

• Giant | 3104 Queens Chapel Rd Hyattsville MD

• PriceRite | 3104 Queens Chapel Rd Hyattsville MD

• Target | 3500 East West Hwy Hyattsville, MD

For additional locations, please click here.

Bulk Trash | To schedule a pick-up for bulk trash, like mattresses (wrapped in plastic), furniture, or other large items, call or text 311 or submit a request online.

Find out what kinds of bulk items are accepted for pick-up.

Hazardous Waste | Hazardous household waste (HHW), like paint, expired fire extinguishers, LED lights, lawn + garden products, and batteries, may be dropped off at the Fort Totten Transfer Station, located at 4900 John McCormack Road NE. You can learn more here about what HHW items are accepted at Fort Totten and where to dispose of items that are not accepted there.