--- title: Oak Bay yard waste collection and drop-off question: "Where does yard waste and brush go in Oak Bay?" place: Oak Bay, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/oak-bay category: Garbage, recycling and waste owner: municipal owner_body: District of Oak Bay sources_read: 2026-11-06 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/yard-waste/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/yard-waste.json" --- # Oak Bay yard waste collection and drop-off **Question:** Where does yard waste and brush go in Oak Bay? **Short answer:** In Oak Bay, yard waste goes in the green organics tote, into the fall leaf and annual spring garden-waste collections, or to the Public Works Drop Off Depot at 1771 Elgin Road. The Depot is free to residents with a decal. **Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Oak Bay, https://www.oakbay.ca) **Cost:** Free to Oak Bay residents with a decal and identification. Costs are covered by the annual $387.40 solid waste charge. Leaves or garden waste left on a street can bring a $100 ticket ($75 if paid within 30 days). **How long:** Depot hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Depot page; closed holidays. Call to confirm. **Where:** - In person: Public Works Yard Drop Off Depot, 1771 Elgin Road - Phone: Public Works, 250-598-4501 ## Key facts - **Curbside collection:** Yes, three ways: leaves, grass clippings, plants and branches go in the green organics tote (the District calls this collection 'bi-weekly'); a fall leaf collection from the boulevard; and one annual spring garden-waste pickup (loose pile on the boulevard, up to 3 m³ per property). - Source: [Leaf and Garden Waste Collection, Fall Leaf Collection; Spring Garden Waste Collection](https://www.oakbay.ca/services/garbage-recycling/leaf-and-garden-waste-collection/) - Official wording: "Leaves are accepted in our green bin (organics) bi-weekly collection" … "Place your leaves on your boulevard for collection by Public Works" … "to a maximum volume of 3 cubic metres per property in total" - Source: [Refuse Collection and Disposal Bylaw, 2007 (Bylaw No. 4371), ss. 1, 3(1)(h)](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/4371-Refuse-Collection-and-Disposal.pdf) - Official wording: "grass clippings; leaves; plants and branches." … "not more than three (3) cubic metres of grass, leaves, and specified yard" … "clippings; leaves; plants and branches." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **How to set it out:** Spring pickup: loose pile on the boulevard by 8 a.m. on collection day (up to 10 days earlier), no plastic bags, pieces no more than 5 ft long and 3 in. thick. Fall leaves: on the boulevard, not the road, with no rocks, sticks or branches mixed in. - Source: [Leaf and Garden Waste Collection, Helpful Tips; Important Tips](https://www.oakbay.ca/services/garbage-recycling/leaf-and-garden-waste-collection/) - Official wording: "Material must not exceed 5’ in length and 3” in diameter." … "Material may be placed in a loose pile, but not in plastic bags." … "Material may be placed on the boulevard a maximum 10 days prior to scheduled pickup." … "Do not place rocks, sticks, branches, or other material in the leaf pile." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Drop-off:** Public Works Yard Drop Off Depot, 1771 Elgin Road, for Oak Bay residents with a resident decal. The Depot page lists Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; the bylaw says 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed holidays. Call 250-598-4501 to confirm. (Sources differ: The Drop Off Depot page gives Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., different from the bylaw's 8 a.m. start and 3 p.m. Saturday close. Bylaw followed per rule; the web page is probably the newer practice, so verify by calling Public Works 250-598-4501. Decals are issued at the kiosk Tuesday to Thursday. Non-residents and commercial gardeners cannot use it (s. 3(2), (3)).) - Source: [Refuse Collection and Disposal Bylaw, 2007 (Bylaw No. 4371), s. 3(1)(b), 3(4)](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/4371-Refuse-Collection-and-Disposal.pdf) - Official wording: "yard trimmings excluding branches or trunks more than one (1) metre in" … "length or more than eight (8) centimetres in diameter, grass and leaves," … "between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, and between 8:00 a.m. and" … "3:00 p.m. on Saturdays" - Source: [Drop Off Depot](https://www.oakbay.ca/services/garbage-recycling/drop-off-depot/) - Official wording: "Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m" … "Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (excluding stat holidays)." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Cost:** Free to Oak Bay residents with a decal and identification. Curbside collection and depot costs are covered by the annual $387.40 solid waste charge. - Source: [Drop Off Depot](https://www.oakbay.ca/services/garbage-recycling/drop-off-depot/) - Official wording: "This service is free of charge with a decal and identification." - Source: [Refuse Collection and Disposal Bylaw, 2007 (Bylaw No. 4371), ss. 1, 14(1)](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/4371-Refuse-Collection-and-Disposal.pdf) - Official wording: "the annual" … "collection of garden waste, the operation of recycling, garden waste and garbage" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Not accepted:** Curbside spring pickup: stumps, wood, rocks and soil are not collected. Depot: wood, building materials, furniture and invasive species are not accepted; branches over 3 in. thick or 3 ft long are not accepted. - Source: [Leaf and Garden Waste Collection, Spring Garden Waste Collection](https://www.oakbay.ca/services/garbage-recycling/leaf-and-garden-waste-collection/) - Official wording: "Stumps, wood, rocks or soil will not be collected." - Source: [Drop Off Depot, Materials Not Accepted](https://www.oakbay.ca/services/garbage-recycling/drop-off-depot/) - Official wording: "Wood, building materials, furniture, mattresses, TVs" … "Invasive Species are not accepted at the Drop Off Depot." … "Yard trimmings, grass and leaves (No greater than 3" in diameter and 3 ft. in length)" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Bylaw:** Refuse Collection and Disposal Bylaw, 2007 (Bylaw No. 4371), s. 3 - Source: [Refuse Collection and Disposal Bylaw, 2007 (Bylaw No. 4371), title](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/4371-Refuse-Collection-and-Disposal.pdf) - Official wording: "Refuse Collection and Disposal Bylaw, 2007 (No. 4371)" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 ## How it works Under the [Refuse Collection and Disposal Bylaw](), yard waste can go three ways at the curb: leaves, grass clippings, plants and branches in the green organics tote (the District calls this collection "bi-weekly"); a fall leaf collection from the boulevard; and one annual spring garden-waste pickup (a loose pile on the boulevard, up to 3 m³ per property). Dates are set each year, so check the Leaf and Garden Waste Collection page. Leaves are collected from streets by demand in October and November, then once per street from December 7 (the 2026 date). Or take it to the Public Works Yard Drop Off Depot at 1771 Elgin Road. It is for Oak Bay residents with a resident decal. Decals are issued at the kiosk Tuesday to Thursday. ## Steps 1. Spring pickup: place a loose pile on the boulevard by 8 a.m. on collection day (up to 10 days earlier). No plastic bags. Pieces no more than 5 ft long and 3 in. thick. 2. Fall leaves: put them on the boulevard, not the road, with no rocks, sticks or branches mixed in. 3. Depot: bring your decal and identification. Trimmings must be no more than 3 in. thick and 3 ft long. ## Good to know - Not collected in the spring pickup: stumps, wood, rocks and soil. Not accepted at the Depot: wood, building materials, furniture and invasive species, or branches over 3 in. thick or 3 ft long. - Depot hours: the Depot page lists Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; the bylaw says 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed holidays. Call 250-598-4501 to confirm. - Non-residents and commercial gardeners cannot use the Depot. - Leaves or garden waste on a street can bring a $100 ticket ($75 if paid within 30 days) under [Bylaw No. 4846](). ## Official forms and pages - [Leaf and Garden Waste Collection, District of Oak Bay](https://www.oakbay.ca/services/garbage-recycling/leaf-and-garden-waste-collection/) - [Drop Off Depot, District of Oak Bay](https://www.oakbay.ca/services/garbage-recycling/drop-off-depot/) - [Refuse Collection and Disposal Bylaw, 2007 (Bylaw No. 4371) (PDF)](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/4371-Refuse-Collection-and-Disposal.pdf) ## Related questions - [Oak Bay garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/garbage-collection.md) - [Oak Bay backyard fire and burning rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/backyard-fire.md) - [Oak Bay unsightly property rules and how to report](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/unsightly-property.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Yard waste collection in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/yard-waste.md) - [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/yard-waste.md) - [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/yard-waste.md) - [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/yard-waste.md) - [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/yard-waste.md) - [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/yard-waste.md) - [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/yard-waste.md) ## Sources - [Leaf and Garden Waste Collection, District of Oak Bay](https://www.oakbay.ca/services/garbage-recycling/leaf-and-garden-waste-collection/) (read 2026-11-06) - [Drop Off Depot, District of Oak Bay](https://www.oakbay.ca/services/garbage-recycling/drop-off-depot/) (read 2026-11-06) - [Refuse Collection and Disposal Bylaw, 2007 (Bylaw No. 4371) (PDF)](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/4371-Refuse-Collection-and-Disposal.pdf) (read 2026-11-06) - [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 4846, 2023 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Bylaw-4846-Municipal-Ticket-Info-Consolidate.pdf) (read 2026-11-06) _Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Oak Bay. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/yard-waste/_