Local service guide
Yard Cleanup in Billings, MT: Scope and Hauling
Arrange Yard Cleanup in Billings by asking for a written scope that includes the areas to clear, debris separation, hauling, and disposal charges. Billings Public Works requires a lawn-service business working at your residence to haul away the yard waste it generates. Before comparing offers, specify whether you need leaf removal, garden cleanup, shrub pruning, or removal of existing debris, and ask each provider to price the same work. [1]
Define the work before requesting a quote
Walk the property and list the areas you want cleared: lawn, planting beds, fence lines, patio edges, and any alley access. Describe the finish you expect in each area. For example, ask for leaves removed from beds while preserving mulch, weeds pulled around plants you identify, and loose debris removed from paved surfaces.
Send photos of the debris and access route. Identify gate openings, stairs, parking space, and places where you want workers to avoid equipment. Mark plants to keep and disclose hidden irrigation components. Ask the provider to separate routine cleanup from tree work, chemical treatment, soil removal, or repairs so you can approve each part of the job.
Make hauling part of the hired job
Billings Public Works states that a lawn-service business must haul off the yard waste it generates at your residence. Ask the provider to confirm that obligation in the quote rather than plan to leave its cleanup waste in your residential green bin. Specify whether the provider will also remove piles that existed before the visit. [1]
Request a total that identifies labor, loading, transport, and disposal, with any exclusions in writing. Ask whether the provider bases hauling charges on volume, weight, or trips and how it will obtain your approval for an added charge. Agree on whether workers will sweep the loading area and remove loose debris before they leave.
The regional landfill requires vehicles to arrive with secured loads and assesses a fee for loads that fail its secured-load criteria. Ask your hauler how it will contain leaves and secure branches during transport. [2]
Choose a disposal plan for work you do yourself
The city accepts garden waste, grass clippings, leaves, shrub prunings, smaller branches, twigs, and weeds in its yard-waste service. It excludes dirt, sod, rocks, animal droppings, and plastic bags. Sort those materials before filling a green bin, and ask about a separate disposal route for anything the city excludes. [1]
For branch collection, the city lists limits of 4 feet in length and 6 inches in diameter per piece. It requires tied bundles no heavier than 75 pounds and no wider than 2 feet. Its guidance directs residents to schedule large-branch collection by calling 406-657-8315, option 3. Confirm the arrangement before cutting and staging a pile. [1]
Consider doing the work yourself if you can handle the debris and have a confirmed disposal route. Ask for a quote that includes hauling if you want someone else to gather, load, and remove it. Keep cutting attached limbs or handling unstable branches outside a basic leaf-and-garden cleanup agreement unless you have discussed that work with the provider.
Schedule around the city collection season
Billings runs yard-waste collection from the first full week of April, weather permitting, through the last full week of November. The city cannot provide green-bin service in all areas because of safety concerns. Call 406-657-8285 to confirm availability or request a bin before relying on city collection for a homeowner-managed cleanup. [1]
Put the green bin out by 7 am on collection day and keep it 4 feet from obstructions or other containers. The city allows placement the night before collection, requires removal from the street after collection, and prohibits storing green bins on the street. [1]
The city offers shared leaf-collection sites each fall, but its page identifies the named locations as previous sites. Confirm this season's locations before transporting leaves. Do not rake leaves into streets; leaf burning is prohibited within city limits. [1]
Compare disposal charges without assuming a free trip
The landfill's fee page describes an allowance for residential Yellowstone County customers who pay a landfill fee through their annual tax statement. It states that they may bring loads under 1.5 cubic yards or 700 pounds at no additional charge. The page also addresses third-party hauler agreements. Ask the landfill how it will classify a contractor-delivered load before assuming your residential allowance covers it. [2]
If your cleanup includes bulky household debris, ask the city whether the items qualify for special pickup. Its published size-or-quantity pickup fees are $63 for 1 to 5 items, $126 for 6 to 10 items, and $189 for more than 10 items, effective July 1, 2026. Confirm item eligibility and scheduling at 406-657-8315, option 3, before removing that work from a contractor's scope. [3]
Billings city special-pickup fees by item count
Local details that affect your job
A residential lawn service must haul its waste
City guidance requires a lawn-service business to haul away the yard waste it generates at your residence. Ask for removal in the written agreement and clarify responsibility for existing piles so the crew and homeowner share the same completion standard. [1]
Green-bin access depends on your address
The city says safety restrictions prevent yard-waste service in some areas. Confirm service at 406-657-8285 before choosing a cleanup plan that depends on a green bin. For large branches, use the separate scheduling number, 406-657-8315, option 3. [1]
Confirm the landfill allowance for the actual hauler
The landfill describes its small-load allowance for residential Yellowstone County customers and separately requests agreements from third-party haulers. Confirm eligibility for the person delivering your debris; do not deduct disposal charges from a quote based on an assumed homeowner exemption. [2]
Choose the cleanup and disposal arrangement
| Your situation | Arrangement to consider | Confirm before starting |
|---|---|---|
| You want a lawn service to complete the cleanup | A written scope with hauling included | The business must remove the yard waste it generates at your residence. |
| You plan to gather leaves and clippings yourself | City green-bin collection | Check address eligibility, seasonal collection, and accepted materials. |
| You have a large branch pile | A separate branch collection arrangement | Call 406-657-8315, option 3, and confirm preparation requirements. |
| Your yard contains bulky household debris | Compare city special pickup with provider hauling | Ask the city about item eligibility and confirm what each quote includes. |
| A contractor plans to use the landfill | An explicit transport and disposal charge | Confirm load classification and allowance eligibility with the landfill. |
Your hiring checklist
- Photograph each work area and existing debris pile.
- Name the plants, mulch, and garden features workers should preserve.
- Describe gate access, parking, and the route for carrying debris.
- Ask for separate descriptions of cleanup work and optional additions.
- Confirm removal of both newly generated waste and existing piles.
- Request the total price, disposal charges, and approval process for extras.
- Agree on the finish, including cleared surfaces and the loading area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my hired lawn service leave its yard waste in my green bin?
Billings Public Works requires a lawn-service business working at your residence to haul away the yard waste it generates. Include that removal in your agreement and ask the provider to address existing debris piles as a separate part of the scope. [1]
Can I put bagged leaves or sod in the yard-waste bin?
The city accepts leaves but excludes plastic bags and sod from yard-waste collection. It also excludes dirt, rocks, and animal droppings. Separate those materials and confirm their disposal route before starting. [1]
How much should I budget for a hired cleanup?
The city publishes municipal disposal and pickup fees, which do not establish private cleanup prices. Request a quote for your specific areas, debris, access, and hauling needs. Compare the total for the same scope and ask how the provider will handle added work. [2] [3]
Are the listed fall leaf sites confirmed for this season?
The city's yard-waste page labels its named leaf sites as previous locations. Confirm the current sites before making a trip. Do not rake leaves into streets; leaf burning is prohibited within city limits. [1]
Sources and scope
This guide combines the sources below with practical planning guidance. Figures apply to the stated geography and period; request a written quote for your property.