Tompkins County, NY Ordinances (2026)

Tompkins County requires every waste generator to source-separate regulated recyclables from the rest of their trash before it is collected or delivered to a disposal facility, and…

Tompkins County limits recyclables collection to licensed or county-authorized haulers and requires residents to pull empty curbside recycling bins in by 8:00 p.m. on collection day…

Tompkins County Code § 140-14 bars anyone from setting solid waste at curbside without a disposal-fee tag on the can or bag, and bars haulers from picking up untagged waste. Waste must…

Tompkins County Code § 140-7 requires anyone who sets a curbside recycling container out for pickup to remove the empty container from the curb, sidewalk or other collection spot by…

Tompkins County Code § 140-32 bans disposing of solid waste anywhere except an authorized Part 360 disposal facility, and § 140-33 makes a first offense punishable by a $100-to-$500…

Tompkins County makes it unlawful to introduce, transplant, or transport aquatic invasive plants and animals, such as Eurasian water milfoil and Hydrilla, into any lake, stream, or…

Tompkins County bans smoking in bars and food service establishments, and the county code writes outdoor seating areas into both definitions, so lighting up on a restaurant patio or…

Tompkins County requires anyone who peddles, hawks, or solicits door-to-door or in public places to first obtain a license from the Sheriff's Office. Applicants file character…

Tompkins County layers extra recordkeeping onto its peddler license for anyone buying or selling precious metals and jewelry: full item descriptions, seller ID, and a ban on…

Tompkins County Code § 150-10 imposes a 5% tax on the rent charged for every hotel-room occupancy in the county, collected by the operator from the occupant. The tax reaches motels…

Chapter 160 lets Tompkins County treat an unattended vehicle as abandoned after set time limits, from as little as 6 hours if it has no plates on a highway to 7 days on someone else's…

Tompkins County Code § 162-13 lets the County Legislature or its designee set overnight hours when parking is banned or limited in the county's own controlled parking areas, meaning…