Yard Cleanup in Colorado Springs: Plan the Job

Define the work and the finished result

Walk the property and photograph the lawn, planting beds, fence lines, paths, and debris piles you want cleared. Name the tasks: collect leaves, pull selected weeds, gather fallen branches, or remove loose litter. Mark plants you want to keep and point out irrigation parts, edging, and other features the crew should protect.

Ask contractors to price that same list. Specify whether they should collect material into bags, process it onsite, or remove it from the property. For an hourly offer, ask how many workers the rate covers and set a spending limit that requires your approval before they continue. For a fixed quote, agree on how they will handle material hidden beneath existing piles.

Describe the finish in terms you can inspect: clear walking surfaces, preserve marked plants, and remove the agreed piles. Decide whether the crew should include a return visit for leaves that fall after the first cleanup. Keep mowing, bed work, and tree work as named quote items rather than assuming the contractor includes them.

Choose a disposal plan before hiring

Choose which vegetation you want to retain. The city recommends composting yard waste and describes shredded leaves as mulch for flower or vegetable gardens. Ask the contractor to identify the material they propose to process and agree on where they will place it. [3]

For self-hauling, El Paso County lists residential collection at Rocky Top Resources on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The program charges $10 per load and accepts cash or check. Pine needles carry an additional fee that the county page does not quantify. Confirm the arrangement and that surcharge with Rocky Top at 719-579-9103 before loading. [1]

Sort the pile before choosing that program. The county lists leaves, weeds, grass clippings, plant prunings, and branches up to 8 feet long and 8 inches in diameter among accepted materials. It excludes tree stumps, railroad ties, treated lumber, household trash, sod, dirt, and topsoil. Ask a hauling contractor to name a destination for each material category and include the disposal charges in the offer. [1]

Check credentials when the scope includes trees

Separate gathering loose branches from cutting attached limbs. The city’s guidance requires a tree-service business license for paid cutting, training, pruning, shaping, or removal of trees. It states no height exception in that requirement. Verify the business’s current license before accepting tree work as part of the cleanup. [2]

The city reports tree-service code changes effective October 5, 2026, including updated insurance requirements. Ask for current insurance documentation and identify the business that will perform the tree work if the cleanup contractor proposes a subcontractor. [2]

The city lists a $110 annual tree-service license fee and a $120 written-exam fee. These administrative charges help explain the separate licensing process for tree businesses. They do not establish a homeowner’s pruning, removal, or cleanup price; request a project quote for the work you want. [2]

Prepare access and inspect completion

Before the visit, clear access through gates and agree on parking and staging space. Point out anything the crew should leave untouched. Discuss a backup date and who will contact whom if weather changes the appointment. If you choose self-hauling, specify how the crew should package or stage the material for your vehicle.

Tell the crew to collect and contain leaves and grass clippings. Colorado Springs warns that blowing them into streets sends debris into storm drains and waterways, can cause flooding, and violates city code. Include the curbside area in your walkthrough if the crew works near the street. [3]

Compare the finished areas with your photographs and written task list. Check that the crew preserved marked plants and placed retained material where you agreed. Resolve remaining piles or missed areas with the contractor before treating the job as complete.

Published city fees for tree-service businesses

Choose an arrangement for each part of the job

Your hiring checklist

1. Photograph work areas and mark plants and property features to protect.
2. List the tasks and separate loose-branch collection from attached-tree work.
3. Choose composting, mulching, self-hauling, or contractor removal.
4. Request separate amounts for labor, hauling, disposal, and optional work.
5. Confirm destinations and charges for each category of mixed debris.
6. Agree on gate access, staging space, and a weather backup date.
7. Compare the finished work with the written scope during a walkthrough.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I budget for a complete cleanup?

Request a quote based on your task list, access, and disposal plan. The county’s $10-per-load charge applies to the residential Saturday yard-waste program at Rocky Top; it does not cover contractor labor or a complete cleanup. Ask whether the offer includes loading, hauling, and disposal. [1]

Can my hired crew use the Saturday residential program?

Confirm with Rocky Top before relying on that arrangement. The county describes a program for El Paso and Teller County residents and does not establish eligibility for commercial crews. Ask the contractor to include a confirmed disposal destination and its charges in the quote. [1]

Does the tree-license guidance exempt small trees?

The city’s guidance states no height exception in its requirement for a license to perform paid cutting, training, pruning, shaping, or removal of trees. Ask the City Clerk about any scope-specific licensing question before authorizing the work. [2]

Should I ask the crew to remove all the leaves?

Choose based on the finish you want and the space you have for reuse. The city recommends composting and describes shredded leaves as garden mulch. Agree on where the crew will place retained material and require them to keep leaves and clippings out of the street. [3]