Richmond, BC yard cleanup: plan the job

Write a cleanup scope you can compare

Send each contractor the same photos and task list. Identify the lawn, beds, paths and fence edges you want cleared. Mark plants you want retained and distinguish loose leaves from weeds you want pulled. State whether the job includes mowing, light shrub trimming or removing old pots and other rubbish. Ask the contractor to list exclusions before you accept.

Describe access as well as the yard: gate width, steps, parking location and the route between the work area and the loading point. Ask how the crew will protect planting beds and keep walkways usable. For a yard hidden by overgrowth, request a site visit and written approval before the crew adds work it discovers after clearing.

Request an itemized quote covering labour, bagging or bundling, hauling, disposal and any separate treatments. For hourly work, confirm whether the rate applies to one worker or the whole crew, then agree on a spending limit. Compare written quotes for the same tasks, including bagging, hauling and disposal.

Choose curbside preparation or contractor hauling

For residents with curbside collection, Richmond instructs households to set out the Green Cart with unlimited paper yard waste bags or labelled Green Cans by 7:30 a.m. on the designated weekly collection day. Keep the sidewalk accessible. Ask the crew to finish with bags and bundles ready for collection, and agree who will move them to the curb. [1]

Extra containers cannot exceed 80 L or weigh more than 20 kg. The City advises keeping lids tight to prevent added water weight and folding and securing the tops of full yard waste bags. Ask the crew to leave enough smaller containers or bags that you can handle them without overfilling. [1]

Richmond limits tied yard-trimming bundles to 91 cm by 61 cm and requires branches in those bundles to be less than 4 inches in diameter. For branches placed inside the Green Cart, the City specifies a maximum diameter of 10 cm and requires cutting them to fit with the lid closed. Tell the contractor which preparation method you intend to use. [1]

Choose hauling if you want the debris removed at the end of the visit or cannot store it until collection. Ask for the disposal destination, the included load allowance and the charge for additional material. Separate accepted plant trimmings from excluded items: Richmond’s Green Cart list excludes rocks, dirt, sod, lumber, garden hoses and flower pots. [1]

Keep tree work separate from ordinary cleanup

Richmond’s Tree Protection Bylaw generally prohibits cutting or removing a tree larger than 20 cm in trunk diameter without a permit. The City measures that diameter at 1.4 m above the ground. If a contractor proposes removing a standing tree during cleanup, check the requirement with the City before authorizing the work. [2]

The City accepts residential tree-removal applications and supporting materials at City Hall, by post or by email to its permits office. Supporting materials must identify the tree locations or include photos; applicants who are not the registered owner must include a letter of authorization. Ask who will handle the application and wait for the required approval before scheduling removal. [2]

Richmond also prohibits tree topping on private and City property. Exclude topping from the cleanup scope. If you want substantial tree work, arrange a separate arborist assessment and ask the contractor to describe the proposed cuts before you approve them. [2]

Agree on the weed-removal method

Specify manual weed removal if you want the crew to pull or dig weeds without applying a treatment. Richmond restricts non-essential cosmetic pesticide use on residential and City-owned land. Its guidance includes herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and combined fertilizer-herbicide products, and the restrictions extend to conventional herbicides used on weeds in pavement cracks. [3]

If a contractor proposes a product, request its name and active ingredient before approving it. Richmond permits certain excluded pesticides and biological controls, so check the proposal against the City’s permitted list. The City advises residents and strata councils that they must ensure their contractors follow the restrictions. Keep treatment approval separate from the cleanup agreement. [3]

Prepare for the visit and check the finish

Move vehicles and loose belongings out of the agreed work route. Mark plants to retain, point out irrigation equipment and show the crew where it may stage debris. Confirm access arrangements, the weather rescheduling policy and whether you need to be present. Ask for proof of liability insurance and the name of the person responsible for the work.

At completion, walk through the agreed areas with the crew. Check that it retained marked plants, removed the specified weeds and left paths clear. Confirm that it prepared collection material as agreed or removed the promised loads. Compare any extra charges with the written approvals before settling the invoice.

Richmond’s maximum tied yard-trimming bundle dimensions

Choose the cleanup arrangement

Your hiring checklist

1. Photograph the work areas and mark plants to retain.
2. Give each contractor the same task list and access details.
3. Choose collection preparation, hauling or a clearly described combination.
4. Confirm who supplies bags and who moves material to the curb.
5. Separate tree work and pesticide treatments for approval before work begins.
6. Get labour, disposal, extras and the spending limit in writing.
7. Check insurance, scheduling and the completed work with the contractor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the contractor leave bags for City collection?

Yes, plan that option if your home has residential curbside collection and the material meets Richmond’s requirements. The City accepts unlimited paper yard waste bags and labelled Green Cans alongside the cart. Agree who will store the material and set it out by 7:30 a.m. on collection day without blocking the sidewalk. [1]

Can soil and sod go in the Green Cart?

Richmond excludes dirt, rocks and sod from the Green Cart. Ask the crew to keep them separate from leaves and accepted trimmings, and specify their removal in the quote. [1]

Does a cleanup quote include tree removal?

Ask the contractor to quote tree removal separately and check approval requirements before accepting it. Richmond generally requires a permit for cutting or removing trees larger than 20 cm in diameter, measured 1.4 m above ground, and prohibits tree topping. [2]

Can a crew spray weeds in my driveway cracks?

Richmond restricts conventional herbicides for cosmetic weed control in pavement cracks on residential property. Request manual removal or obtain the product name and active ingredient so you can check whether the City permits the proposed treatment. [3]