Yard Waste Collection: Petaluma vs Sonoma
How do yard waste collection rules compare between Petaluma, CA and Sonoma, CA?
Petaluma, CA
Sonoma County
No data available yet for Petaluma.
Sonoma, CA
Sonoma County
Sonoma supplies every residence with a 96-gallon green organics cart for grass, leaves, hedge clippings, branches, and untreated lumber; yard waste must go in the green cart under SMC Ch. 7.10 (SB 1383) and may not be burned because the City sits in a CAL FIRE State Responsibility Area / WUI.
View full Sonoma rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Petaluma | Sonoma |
|---|---|---|
| Cart | - | 96-gallon green organics cart (mixed yard waste + food scraps) |
| Accepted | - | Grass, leaves, hedge clippings, weeds, branches, untreated lumber, food scraps |
| Mandatory diversion | - | Yes — SMC Ch. 7.10 / SB 1383 |
| Open burning | - | Prohibited (BAAQMD Reg. 5-401) |
| Large-volume option | - | 20- or 30-yard SGC debris box by appointment |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Petaluma FAQ
No FAQs available.
Sonoma FAQ
Can I burn leaves and yard trimmings in Sonoma?
No. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District's Regulation 5-401 prohibits open burning of refuse and yard waste throughout the nine-county Bay Area, and Sonoma is within a CAL FIRE State Responsibility Area. Use the green organics cart instead — burning yard waste is subject to BAAQMD civil penalties under Cal. Health & Safety Code §42402.
What do I do with branches too big for the green cart?
Sonoma Garbage Collectors will deliver a 20-yard or 30-yard wood/yard-waste debris box for large-volume jobs (call (707) 996-7555). Excess bagged or bundled yard debris can also be set out during the April and October community cleanup events. Do not put yard waste in the gray trash cart — that is a SB 1383 violation.
Compare other topics
See how Petaluma and Sonoma compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool