DPW works to clean streets and alleys from the first Monday in April through September 30th. Alley cleaning is suspended from October 1st through March 31st. Alley Cleaning Services include cleaning up loose litter, debris, glass, gravel, sand, and liquid spills in the alley. It includes manual cleaning and mechanical sweeping, when applicable.
Please note cars parked on routes during scheduled street sweeping may result in portions of a block/or route not receiving curb-to-street sweeping. Street sweeping may also be missed due to operational modifications. DPW recently expanded its street sweeping program to encompass more residential neighborhoods and cleans residential and arterial streets using mechanical sweepers of various sizes. This program operates in densely populated neighborhoods with high-volume pedestrian traffic.
Click here to report issues related to automated street sweeping.
How You Can Help
- Pick up the litter and trash in your alley and around your property, rather than sweeping these items into the gutter to eventually end up in one of the District’s rivers.
- Per District of Columbia Municipal Regulations 21-702 - REMOVAL OF REFUSE FROM PUBLIC SPACE ADJACENT TO PRIVATE PROPERTY
- Except as provided in §702.2, each owner, tenant, or lessee (or the agent of that person) who has control of or occupies any building, lot, or land within the District shall maintain in clean condition the public space from the property line of that building, lot, or land and extending eighteen inches (18 in.) from the curb line (or the lateral lines of the roadway) into the abutting roadway.
- 702.2 Each owner, tenant, or lessee (or the agent of that person) who has control of or occupies any building that contains three (3) or fewer dwelling units within the District shall maintain in clean condition the public space between the curb line (or lateral lines of the roadway) and the property line of that building.
- Except as provided in §702.2, each owner, tenant, or lessee (or the agent of that person) who has control of or occupies any building, lot, or land within the District shall maintain in clean condition the public space from the property line of that building, lot, or land and extending eighteen inches (18 in.) from the curb line (or the lateral lines of the roadway) into the abutting roadway.
- Use the street litter and recycling cans as you walk along the District’s commercial streets. The litter cans are for pedestrian trash only, not household trash.
- Overnight scheduled sweeping of the District’s major roadways occurs year-round, weather permitting. Motorists are urged to obey the signs when parking in these areas during the posted overnight sweeping hours.
- To obtain street and alley cleaning services, call 311 and/or enter a request directly into the system via “Street Cleaning” or “Alley Cleaning”.
- For bulk pick-up (mattresses, furniture, etc.) please schedule this service through the "Residential Bulk Pick-up" request. Services to remove overgrowth of grass and weeds in the alley, require a "Grass and Weeds Mowing" request.
