Harford County, MD Landscaping Rules: Composting (2026)
Key Facts
- Backyard composting permit
- not required
- Exemption source
- § 161-1 "established compost pile"
- On-property disposal allowed by
- § 179-7C
- County compost price
- $10 per cubic yard (§157-28D)
- Free resident allowance
- three 30-gallon containers
- Illegal dumping penalty
- up to $1,000 fine / 6 months
Summary
Harford County does not require a permit for a residential compost pile. Section 179-7C lets a property owner dispose of yard trim on their own land, and Section 161-1 excludes clippings kept in an established compost pile from the county's rubbish and refuse rules.
No person shall deposit yard trim, which shall consist of organic vegetative material and shall include, but not be limited to, grass clippings, brush, weeds, tree limbs or branches less than 5 inches in diameter, anywhere in Harford County other than at the Tollgate Road Yard Trim Facility, the compost facility at the Harford Waste Disposal Center or any other County owned, operated or approved facility other than during posted hours of operation... Nothing contained in Section 179-7 shall prohibit a property owner from disposing of yard trim on the owner's property.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4988582; v46 updated 2026-06-09; through 06-09-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 179-7A bars dumping yard trim, meaning grass clippings, brush, weeds and limbs under five inches, anywhere in the county except the Tollgate Road Yard Trim Facility, the compost facility at the Harford Waste Disposal Center, or another county-approved site during posted hours. Section 179-7C carves out an exception for backyard composting: nothing in the section stops a property owner from disposing of yard trim on the owner's own property, and Section 161-1's definition of RUBBISH AND REFUSE separately excludes yard and lawn clippings not located in an established compost pile, meaning material that is in one is not regulated refuse at all. The county also runs its own composting operation: Section 157-28D prices county compost and mulch at $10 per cubic yard, and every Harford County resident may take three 30-gallon containers or bags of compost or mulch free of charge, while a hauler paid to remove yard trim pays the county a $20 per-visit fee.
Violations & Fines
Section 179-7D makes depositing yard trim anywhere other than a county-approved facility or the owner's own property a public nuisance and a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $1,000, imprisonment up to six months, or both, at the court's discretion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to compost in my backyard in Harford County?
Where can I take yard trim if I don't compost it myself?
Can I buy finished compost from Harford County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Harford County
Compare Harford County to another location·View the Maryland landscaping rules overview
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