Prince William County, VA Landscaping Rules: Composting (2026)

Section 22-34 sits in Chapter 22's Article II, the same storage article that governs trash and recycling containers, and it permits composting organic material 'from and on the property of an individual residence or farm' without any county permit. The only standard the ordinance sets is that the composting be 'done in a manner so as not to create a health or safety menace,' the same phrase Chapter 22 uses elsewhere for conditions like rodent infestation and unsanitary trash storage. The ordinance draws one hard line on method: composting leaves, grass, and brush/mulch can happen in an open pile, but 'composting of any organic material other than leaves, grass and brush/mulch shall be done in a container designed for the purpose of organic composting,' meaning food scraps, manure or other organics need an enclosed bin rather than a loose backyard heap.

Chapter 22 sets no numeric limits on pile size, bin capacity or property-line setback for composting, unlike its detailed gallon and weight specifications for trash and yard-waste containers. If a compost setup draws pest or odor complaints, the county can treat it like any other nuisance and pursue it through Article II's general enforcement mechanism rather than a composting-specific fine.