Under California's SB 1383, Cupertino residents and businesses must keep food scraps and yard trimmings out of the trash and use Recology South Bay's organics collection. Backyard composting is allowed as a supplement, provided the pile does not become a nuisance.
California's SB 1383 (the short-lived climate pollutants law) took effect January 1, 2022, and requires every jurisdiction, including Cupertino, to provide organic-waste collection and requires residents and businesses to keep food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard trimmings out of landfill trash. In Cupertino, organics and recycling collection is provided by Recology South Bay, and everyone must separate organics into the compost/green cart or self-haul to a diversion facility. Home composting is allowed and encouraged to reduce set-out, but a backyard pile must not create odors, harbor vermin, or become a public nuisance, or it can be addressed under the City's nuisance provisions. SB 1383 sorting enforcement escalated after January 1, 2024, when jurisdictions may issue notices and penalties.
Failing to separate organics or contaminating carts under SB 1383 can bring warnings and escalating penalties through enforcement of the state mandate (since 2024). A compost pile producing odors, attracting vermin, or becoming a nuisance can be cited and abated.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Cupertino city parks are closed overnight under Municipal Code Chapter 13.04. No person may remain, stay, or loiter in a public park between 10 p.m. and 6 a....
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Cupertino limits light trespass onto neighboring property under Municipal Code Chapter 19.102: no exterior light may cast more than 0.1 foot-candle onto an a...
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Cupertino's dark-sky lighting standards in Municipal Code Chapter 19.102 require all outdoor lighting to be fully shielded, directed downward, and away from ...
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Garage sale signs in Cupertino are allowed in residential zones under Municipal Code Table 19.104.250: one on-site sign and up to three off-site signs, each ...
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Temporary political signs in Cupertino need no permit and are allowed in all zones with no numeric limit, under Municipal Code Table 19.104.250. Each sign ma...
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A permanent tiny home on a foundation is treated as an accessory dwelling unit in Cupertino under Municipal Code Chapter 19.112, which allows detached ADUs u...
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