Modoc County, CA Landscaping Rules: Composting (2026)

Modoc County's composting framework lives in County Code Chapter 8.03, 'Organic Waste Disposal Reduction,' adopted by Ordinance 2022-361 to carry out California's SB 1383 (the Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Act of 2016) and related laws AB 939 and AB 341. Section 8.03.060 governs single-family generators, which 'are encouraged to manage their organic waste by preventing or reducing their organic waste, managing organic waste on site, and/or using a community composting site pursuant to 14 CCR Section 18984.9(c).' In other words, backyard and community composting are explicitly recognized as compliant ways to handle yard and food scraps. Section 8.03.100 sets reporting duties for facility operators and community-composting operations, which on request must provide the county capacity information. Section 8.03.130 incorporates the state Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance's compost-and-mulch requirements: qualifying new (over 500 sq ft) and rehabilitated (over 2,500 sq ft) landscape projects must use compost and mulch as specified in MWELO. The chapter is primarily about diverting organics from landfills and building soil; it does not prohibit home composting and in fact promotes it as an on-site management option.