Lynnwood's Trash & Recycling: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles trash & recycling a little differently. In Lynnwood, Washington, there are 5 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Dumpster Rules

Lynnwood requires every commercial or multifamily refuse and recycling collection area to sit at least 25 feet from a public street and 25 feet from any property line touching a residential or public zone. Dumpsters and roll-off bins must be enclosed on three sides by a six-foot vision-obscuring fence and gate under Lynnwood Municipal Code Section 8.40.0400.

Key details: Street setback: Minimum 25 feet from public street. Residential-zone setback: Minimum 25 feet from abutting zone. Enclosure: Six-foot vision-obscuring fence and gate. Governing code: Lynnwood Municipal Code Section 8.40.0400. Penalty start: $100 first day, up to $500/day.

A collection area built short of the 25-foot setback or without the required six-foot screening fence is a Unified Development Code violation handled through Lynnwood's code enforcement process. The city can issue a notice of violation and order corrective action, then assess civil penalties starting at $100.00 for the first day of noncompliance and climbing to $500.00 per day thereafter until the enclosure or setback is fixed, under Lynnwood Municipal Code Section 1.40.040.

Pickup Rules & Schedules

Lynnwood, Washington, a Snohomish County city, requires every property owner and entity to obtain garbage collection from a solid waste collector licensed by the state under LMC 7.04.040. The city council declared mandatory, universal service necessary for public health, and LMC 7.04.050 backs the duty with a fine of up to $100.00 per violation, up to 30 days in jail, or both.

Key details: Governing section: LMC 7.04.040. Mandatory: Licensed collector required for every property. Fine: Up to $100 per violation. Jail: Up to 30 days. Container standard: Watertight, raised-bottom, tight-covered (LMC 7.04.030).

Violating the mandatory-collection duty in LMC 7.04.040 is punishable under LMC 7.04.050 by a fine of up to $100.00 per violation, up to 30 days in jail, or both, with each day of noncompliance chargeable separately. The city may instead pursue any other remedy available under the code, including the general penalty and abatement procedures in LMC Chapter 1.40 and the junk-vehicle removal process in LMC Chapter 10.08.

Illegal Dumping

Lynnwood, Washington, in Snohomish County, bans illegal dumping through LMC 7.14.070, which adopts RCW 70.95.240, 70.95.500 and 70.95.610 by reference. LMC 7.14.080 punishes violations with misdemeanor fines up to $1,000 and up to 90 days in jail, or a separate civil penalty of $200.00 to $2,000 per offense.

Key details: Governing section: LMC 7.14.070. Adopts by reference: RCW 70.95.240, 70.95.500, 70.95.610. Misdemeanor fine: Up to $1,000. Jail: Up to 90 days. Civil penalty: $200 to $2,000 per offense.

LMC 7.14.080 splits penalties by which adopted RCW section is broken. Violating RCW 70.95.240 is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment of up to 90 days, or both. Violating RCW 70.95.610 is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000. Violating RCW 70.95.500 carries a civil penalty of not less than $200.00 nor more than $2,000 for each offense, separate from the criminal misdemeanor tracks.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Lynnwood actively enforces its illegal dumping requirements.

Recycling Requirements

Lynnwood, Washington, does not fix recycling details in its municipal code; LMC 7.15.010 has the director of public works promulgate the rules governing materials collected, service recipients, frequency, timetables and reporting. The director must review the rules at least every two years and give a current copy to every licensed collector serving the city.

Key details: Governing section: LMC 7.15.010. Set by: City director of public works. Review cycle: At least every two years. Council role: May act on rules under RCW Title 35. Circulated to: Every licensed solid waste collector.

Chapter 7.15 does not carry its own penalty section: unlike Chapter 7.14's dumping provisions, the recycling chapter runs on administrative rules issued by the director of public works rather than a criminal or civil fine schedule. Enforcement instead runs through the licensed collector's contract terms and the mandatory garbage-collection duty in LMC 7.04.040, which requires every property to keep a licensed hauler that in turn must follow the director's recycling rules under LMC 7.15.050.

Lynnwood is more permissive than most cities when it comes to recycling requirements. That said, there are still limits.

Yard Waste Collection

Lynnwood, Washington, in Snohomish County, bars mixing yard waste with garbage under LMC 7.15.060. Once yard waste or composting collection service is available, residents must use it; otherwise yard waste may be composted on the property or disposed of by any other lawful means, but never dumped in with regular garbage.

Key details: Governing section: LMC 7.15.060. Duty: Separate yard waste from garbage. Lawful disposal: Collection service, own-property composting, or lawful means. Adopted: Ord. 1785 § 2, 1990. Chapter penalty: None set specifically in Ch. 7.15.

LMC 7.15.060 does not set out its own fine schedule for mixing yard waste with garbage; Chapter 7.15 contains rulemaking and severability sections but no dedicated penalty clause. Because the duty sits within Title 7 alongside the general garbage and solid-waste provisions, the city can still pursue the general code-enforcement remedies found elsewhere in the Lynnwood Municipal Code, such as those referenced for garbage-collection violations in LMC 7.04.050.

The Bottom Line

Lynnwood's trash & recycling rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Lynnwood is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Lynnwood can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.