Trash & Recycling in Fargo, ND (2026)
9 verified trash & recycling rules for Fargo, North Dakota, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Fargo caps when you can put your city-issued cart at the curb: no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before pickup, off the berm by 6 p.m. on collection day.
Fargo Trash Cart Set-Out Window
Some RestrictionsFargo Municipal Code § 13-0504
Containers must be placed on the berm not earlier than 6:00 p.m. on the day prior to the day of collection nor later than 8:00 a.m. on the morning of collection; and shall be removed from the berm not later than 6:00 p.m. on the day of collection. Where there are alleys, containers must be placed at the rear of the property. During the winter months, the area where the containers are placed mus...
Bin Placement Rules
Fargo requires household garbage carts to sit at the curb or alley berm only between 6 p.m. the night before collection and 8 a.m. collection morning, then be pulled back by 6 p.m. that same day.
Fargo Trash Cart Placement and Set-Out Times
Some RestrictionsFargo Municipal Code § 13-0504
Containers must be placed on the berm not earlier than 6:00 p.m. on the day prior to the day of collection nor later than 8:00 a.m. on the morning of collection; and shall be removed from the berm not later than 6:00 p.m. on the day of collection. Where there are alleys, containers must be placed at the rear of the property. During the winter months, the area where the containers are placed mus...
Recycling Requirements
Fargo's Composting and Recycling Program requires trash and recyclables to go into properly marked containers at city deposit sites, making it a violation to dump non-compatible waste in the wrong bin.
Fargo Recycling and Compost Deposit Site Rules
Some RestrictionsFargo Municipal Code § 13-0530
It shall be unlawful for any person, corporation, or any agent or employee thereof to place in the compost or deposit sites established by the City any non-compatible trash. Trash and recyclable materials shall be deposited in the appropriate containers and anyone depositing trash in a container not marked or designated for that type of trash or recyclable material shall be guilty of a violatio...
Valet Trash Rules
Fargo's fire code flatly prohibits valet trash pickup service and bars trash or recycling from sitting in Group R corridors.
Fargo Bans Valet Trash Collection
Heavy RestrictionsFargo Municipal Code § 9-0704 (amending IFC § 304.1.1)
304.1.1 Valet trash. Valet trash collection shall not be permitted. Trash and recycling materials shall not be placed in the corridor of Group R occupancies.
Illegal Dumping
Dumping litter, garbage, furniture, or debris on public or private property you don't own is banned citywide, backed by a flat $150 fee under Fargo's municipal code.
Illegal Dumping Fine in Fargo
Some RestrictionsFargo Municipal Code § 11-0814 (littering on private property); fee set by § 1-0305(C)(9)
No person may discard or abandon any litter, garbage, furniture, or other debris upon public or private property not owned by that person, unless the property is designated for the disposal of such items and that person is authorized to use the property for that purpose. For purposes of this section, litter shall include any rubbish, junk, refuse, or waste of any kind.
Yard Waste Collection
Fargo's solid waste trucks won't pick up tree branches, sod, or yard waste with regular trash: residents must haul yardwaste to city compost collection sites or the landfill compost site under Article 13-05.
Fargo Yard Waste Goes to Compost Sites
Some RestrictionsFargo Municipal Code § 13-0513
Yard waste may be deposited at compost collection sites within the city or may be hauled to the city compost site at the landfill in accordance with regulations established by the solid waste operations manager pursuant to § 13-0514 of this article. Source: 1965 Rev. Ord. 13-0513, 1349 (1970), 1558 (1973), 2366 (1987), 2513 (1990), 2600 (1991), 2623 (1992), 2678 (1993), 2701 (1994), 2945 (19...
Dumpster Rules
Fargo requires dumpsters near residential zones to sit at least 20 feet back from the lot line and be completely screened by a fence, wall, berm, or landscaping as tall as the dumpster itself.
Fargo Dumpster Screening and Setback Rules
Some RestrictionsFargo Municipal Code § 20-0704(C)
Dumpsters and outdoor storage areas located on property subject to the residential protection standards of this section must be completely screened from view of property in any SR, MR or MHP zoning district by buildings, fences, walls, berms or landscape buffers that are at least as tall as the dumpster. This provision shall apply to all dumpsters and outdoor storage areas, including public or ...
Collection Schedule
Fargo residents and businesses cannot opt out of city trash service: the code bars refusing collection, and containers must sit curbside only between set evening and morning hours.
Fargo Mandates Solid Waste Collection Service
Significant RestrictionsFargo Municipal Code § 13-0522
No person, firm or corporation within the city shall be permitted to refuse to accept the waste collection and disposal service provided for in this article. The owner or his authorized agent of any multiple dwelling unit shall furnish the city water department and the solid waste operations manager with a complete and accurate list containing the names and addresses of all tenants therein, sai...
Recycling Rules
Fargo's composting and recycling program requires trash and recyclable materials to go into the correctly marked container at city deposit sites: putting either in the wrong container is a code violation.
Fargo Recycling Deposit Site Sorting Rules
Some RestrictionsFargo Municipal Code § 13-0530
It shall be unlawful for any person, corporation, or any agent or employee thereof to place in the compost or deposit sites established by the City any non-compatible trash. Trash and recyclable materials shall be deposited in the appropriate containers and anyone depositing trash in a container not marked or designated for that type of trash or recyclable material shall be guilty of a violatio...
Looking for Cass County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Fargo city rules.
Trash & Recycling in Cass County →