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Louisville, KY Landscaping Rules: Composting (2026)

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Backyard exemption threshold
under 20 cubic yards
Above threshold
treated as licensed facility
Governing chapter
Metro Code Ch. 51, Solid Waste
Facility license fee (if triggered)
$100 per year

Summary

Louisville Metro exempts backyard compost piles and bins from facility licensing as long as the material on site stays under 20 cubic yards.

Exclusions. These regulations shall not apply to backyard compost piles such as may be found in residential settings or small volume operations such as typically may be found at nurseries as long as the total accumulation of material, processed or unprocessed, on site does not exceed 20 cubic yards.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-47: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ordinances passed by the Council and approved by the Mayor as of July 1, 2026).

Full Breakdown

Louisville Metro regulates commercial and institutional composting operations as licensed "compost facilities" under Chapter 51, but Metro Code § 51.302(N) carves out an exclusion for backyard compost piles found in residential settings, along with small nursery operations, provided the total accumulation of processed or unprocessed material on site does not exceed 20 cubic yards. Below that volume, a resident does not need a Kentucky Division of Waste Management permit or a Metro solid waste facility license to keep a compost pile or bin in their yard. Cross the 20-cubic-yard threshold and the operation is treated as a regulated compost facility subject to the full licensing, site-access, run-off, and record-keeping requirements of § 51.302.

Violations & Fines

Exceeding 20 cubic yards without a facility license and Kentucky Division of Waste Management approval exposes the site to Chapter 51 enforcement as an unpermitted compost facility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep a compost bin in my Louisville backyard without a permit?
Yes. Metro Code § 51.302(N) exempts backyard compost piles from facility licensing as long as total material on site stays under 20 cubic yards.
What happens if my compost pile gets too big?
Once accumulated material exceeds 20 cubic yards, Metro Code treats the site as a compost facility requiring a state permit and a $100 annual Metro license under § 51.302.

Sources & Official References

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