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Trash & Recycling in Imperial County, CA (2026)

4 rules for unincorporated Imperial County, California.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Imperial County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Bin Placement Rules

New residential development in Imperial County's unincorporated area must screen trash receptacles from off-site view under the planning director's site-design standards.

Imperial County Trash Receptacle Screening Rule

Some Restrictions

Imperial County Code § 90301.01(L)

All trash receptacles shall be screened so that they are not visually obtrusive from any off site location. The location and method of screening for all trash receptacles shall also minimize potential for nuisance, be consistent with ease of solid waste removal, and shall be approved by the planning director.M.Architectural design of all proposed structures shall be compatible with the surround...

Mandatory Organics Recycling

Imperial County requires single-family households in the unincorporated area to subscribe to the county's organic waste collection service and sort food scraps and yard trimmings into the green container under the county's SB 1383 program.

Imperial County Mandatory Organics Recycling

Significant Restrictions

Imperial County Code § 8.72A.030

Single-family organic waste generators shall comply with the following requirements except single-family generators that meet the self-hauler requirements in Section 8.72A.090... Generator shall place source separated green container organic waste, including food waste, in the green container; source separated recyclable materials in the blue container; and black/gray container waste in the bla...

Illegal Dumping

Dumping waste on public or private property in unincorporated Imperial County without legal permission is an infraction carrying up to a $250 fine; a second offense is a misdemeanor with jail time.

Illegal Dumping Penalties in Imperial County

Some Restrictions

Imperial County Code § 8.73.030

Any person who causes or permits the dumping of waste on right-of-way of any public highway, street, easement or thoroughfare, or upon any public park, private property, or on any premises, or in any container, without legal permission; or who causes, maintains or permits the accumulation of waste which creates an unsanitary condition or permits or encourages the accumulation or breeding of vec...

Dumpster Rules

Imperial County requires commercial businesses and multifamily properties in the unincorporated area to subscribe to a three-container collection service and provide adequate, accessible bins for trash, recycling, and organic waste.

Imperial County Commercial Waste Container Rules

Significant Restrictions

Imperial County Code § 8.72A.040

Generators that are commercial businesses, including multi-family residential dwellings, shall: (a)Subscribe to county's three-container collection services and comply with requirements of those services as described below in Section 8.72A.040(b), except commercial businesses that meet the self-hauler requirements in Section 8.72A.090 of this ordinance [chapter].

All Imperial County ordinances

See every category we cover for Imperial County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.

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