Inside Freeport’s Leaf Collection Ordinance

FREEPORT, IL – November 03, 2025

As the trees across Freeport trade their greens for golds, one of the most visible city services returns — curbside leaf collection. Each year, thousands of bags, piles, and wind-blown mounds appear along our streets. It’s a seasonal routine we take for granted, but behind it stands a small, often-overlooked piece of City Code: Section 1020.12.
This ordinance shapes how our city handles fallen leaves, what residents are allowed to do, and even who pays for it. But like many of Freeport’s ordinances, it tells only part of the story.