Think Dumping Autumn Leaves in the Woods is Legal In Utah? Think Again

Leaves are going to start dropping in your Utah yard and you will have to start raking. This is all natural stuff so can you go drop this in the woods or desert areas? If you live near a wild area, can you just rake your leaves across the property line?

Understanding Leaf Disposal in Utah

The answer to the question is no, as anything that impairs the scenic landscape is considered littering. That comes with a $100 fine and you will probably have to go clean it up.

You also shouldn't put it in your trash. Bags of leaves and lawn clippings fill up the landfill and should be separated out. There are re-use centers in most cities where you can drop off all the green stuff to be made into mulch.

Burning Might Seem Like An Easy Option

You can burn this pile of yard leftovers, but it is regulated in Utah. Open burning can be a source of air pollution, and the Utah Department of Environmental Quality has guidelines for when and how it can be done. They also require a burn permit to be filled out beforehand. 

brown dried leaves on ground

There are certain times of the year in the spring and fall when permits can be issued. You also must take in the air quality at the time and the location of where you plan to do it. There shouldn’t be any oil, tires or rubbish burned. All of the guidelines are on their site. 

They have made it easy to fill out a permit and letting the fire department know of your plans will prevent someone seeing the smoke and calling in a report. If that happens, they will already know and won’t send out a truck. 

Read More: Moving to Southern Utah, It Might Not Be For You

The best recommendation for all those fallen leaves is to grind them up with your mower and make your own compost pile. You can also leave them on the lawn to add nutrients for next year.