Los Angeles, CA Landscaping Rules: Composting (2026)
Key Facts
- Permitted at
- Single-family and multifamily
- Bin requirement
- Rodent-resistant enclosure
- Setback from property line
- Five feet minimum
- Subsidy program
- LA Sanitation Backyard Composting
- Sale of compost
- Requires CalRecycle permit
Summary
Los Angeles allows backyard composting at any single-family home under LAMC §66.27, requires rodent-resistant containers, and offers discounted compost and worm bins through LA Sanitation's Backyard Composting Program tied to SB-1383 organics diversion goals.
42652.5. (a) The department, in consultation with the State Air Resources Board, shall adopt regulations to achieve the organic waste reduction goals for 2020 and 2025 established in Section 39730.6 of the Health and Safety Code. The regulations shall comply with all of the following: (1) May require local jurisdictions to impose requirements on generators or other relevant entities within their jurisdiction and may authorize local jurisdictions to impose penalties on generators for noncompliance. (2) Shall include requirements intended to meet the goal that not less than 20 percent of edible food that is currently disposed of is recovered for human consumption by 2025.
Full Breakdown
LAMC §66.27, the city's mandatory organics ordinance, expressly recognizes home composting as an alternative to placing food scraps in the green bin. Compost piles must be enclosed in a rodent-resistant bin or fully turned tumbler, kept at least five feet from property lines, and managed to avoid odors and vector attraction. LA Sanitation runs the Backyard Composting Program, selling subsidized stationary bins and worm composters and hosting free monthly workshops. Multifamily properties may install onsite community composting under best management practices issued by CalRecycle. Finished compost may be used onsite but not sold without a CalRecycle solid waste facility permit.
Violations & Fines
Open piles attracting rats, compost placed within five feet of a neighbor's wall, or odor complaints can lead to LA Sanitation abatement orders, public-health rodent citations, and removal requirements under LAMC §66.27 and the Health Code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I still need to use the green bin if I compost at home?
Where can I buy a discounted compost bin?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Los Angeles
California rules heatmap·Compare Los Angeles to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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Composting in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle composting.