Trash & Recycling in Norfolk, VA (2026)
8 verified trash & recycling rules for Norfolk, Virginia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Norfolk collects residential solid waste on a schedule the director of public works sets, and every single residence, duplex and small multi-unit building must pay for that city service under City Code Sec. 41-17. Waste cannot overflow or sit outside the container, and loose household waste must go into a bag first.
Norfolk Trash Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsNorfolk Code of Ordinances § 41-17
(a)The city shall use its personnel and equipment to collect solid waste from residential property on a regular schedule, which shall be set by the director of public works. Every single residence, duplex and multiple residence of four (4) or less units producing solid waste shall be required to pay for city collection. Multiple residences with more than four (4) units and non-residential struc...
Bin Placement Rules
Norfolk gives residential and business customers a fixed set-out window: cart at the curb no earlier than 5 p.m. the night before, no later than 7 a.m. on collection day, and pulled back in by 11:30 p.m. that night under City Code Sec. 41-20, with carts otherwise kept five feet behind the building's front plane or screened from the street.
Norfolk Garbage Cart Placement Times
Some RestrictionsNorfolk Code of Ordinances § 41-20
(a)Place the container at the edge of pavement of the public street, alley or area designated by the director of public works or his designee as the pickup area, so that there is no danger of the container being overturned and so that there is sufficient clearance to accommodate city collection equipment, vehicles and pedestrians. Placement shall not obstruct or interfere with use of any drivew...
Bulk Item Disposal
Norfolk residents get twelve free bulk waste pickups a year, capped at three cubic yards each, but only after calling the division of waste management to schedule it. City Code Sec. 41-32 bars leaving furniture, appliances or other bulk items at the curb without that advance appointment and sets fees once volume climbs past three cubic yards.
Norfolk Bulk Waste Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsNorfolk Code of Ordinances § 41-32
(a)It shall be unlawful to place bulk waste in the city right-of-way without contacting the division of waste management to schedule a special city collection in advance. Bulk waste shall be placed at the collection site no later than 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled day of collection and no earlier than 5:00 p.m. on the night prior to the scheduled pickup. The location and arrangement of bulk waste ...
Illegal Dumping
Norfolk Code § 14.5-4 makes it unlawful to dump solid waste on any property, in any waters, or into the stormwater system without a permit. Violators face a Class 1 misdemeanor under § 14.5-1, with each day of the violation charged as a separate offense and court-ordered site restoration.
Norfolk Illegal Dumping Penalties
Heavy RestrictionsNorfolk Code of Ordinances §§ 14.5-1, 14.5-4
Sec. 14.5-1. - Violations. Any person violating any provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Each day of violation shall constitute a separate offense. In addition to any penalty imposed for each violation, a judge hearing the case may direct the person responsible for the violation to correct the violation and restore the site and each day's default in such correcti...
Yard Waste Collection
Norfolk requires yard waste bagged in clear plastic or bundled to size limits before city crews will pick it up: bundles capped at four feet long, eighteen inches around and 75 pounds, or a 30-gallon container, with only twenty bundles or bags collected per property per day under City Code Sec. 41-35.
Norfolk Yard Waste Bundling and Limits
Some RestrictionsNorfolk Code of Ordinances § 41-35
Any person receiving solid waste collection services by the city shall identify and separately package yard waste either in clear (not opaque) plastic bags, securely tied into bundles not more than four (4) feet in length and eighteen (18) inches in diameter nor weighing more than seventy-five (75) pounds, or placed in a yard waste container not to exceed thirty (30) gallons. No more than twent...
Dumpster Rules
Norfolk requires a permit from the director of public health before any commercial bulk container or roll-off dumpster is placed. City Code Sec. 41-13 sets the siting rules: the container must sit at least ten feet from any building or fire escape, stay off the public right-of-way except for temporary staging, and be screened behind an opaque fence.
Norfolk Commercial Dumpster Placement Rules
Significant RestrictionsNorfolk Code of Ordinances § 41-13
(b)All bulk containers shall require current permits issued by the director of health. The permit application and site plan, along with such application fees as specified by the director of health, shall be submitted before the permit is issued.(c)In granting a permit, the director shall require the following:(1)The bulk container will not be located on any city property, roadway, street, right...
Collection Schedule
Norfolk sets residential garbage service by container ratio, not just a calendar. City Code Sec. 41-18 requires at least one automated cart per unit in buildings of four units or fewer, and one cart for every two units in larger buildings, with private collection stepping in wherever city equipment can't reach or keep up.
Norfolk Residential Collection Service Rules
Some RestrictionsNorfolk Code of Ordinances § 41-18
(a)Residences with four or fewer units. The collection of household waste from residences with four (4) or fewer units shall be conducted using a minimum of one automated collection container per unit.(b)Multiple residences with more than four (4) units. The collection of solid waste from multiple residences with more than four (4) units by city forces shall be handled as follows:(1)A minimum o...
Recycling Rules
Norfolk runs recyclables on the same timing framework as trash collection, with one twist for the downtown business district: recyclables there go out only on Tuesday and Thursday nights, never on the Monday-Wednesday-Friday trash days. City Code Sec. 41-20(c) and Sec. 41-38 govern placement, containers and timing.
Norfolk Recycling Placement and Timing
Some RestrictionsNorfolk Code of Ordinances §§ 41-20(c), 41-38
For those designated shopping centers and the central business district receiving collection services on a regular three-day per week schedule, place containers at the collection site no earlier than 5:00 p.m. and no later than 7:00 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Recyclables may be placed out at the collection site no earlier than 5:00 p.m. and no later than 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday and Thur...