Port Townsend, WA Landscaping Rules: Composting (2026)

Port Townsend's litter ordinance (PTMC 9.28.030) exempts compost piles from the general duty to keep property litter-free, but only if the pile is "contained within a physical structure," i.e., a bin, tumbler, or enclosed unit rather than a loose heap. An uncontained pile can be cited as litter under PTMC 9.28.010's definition, which covers "garbage, refuse, and rubbish" and other waste material that creates a public nuisance. The rule sits inside Title 9's litter chapter rather than a dedicated composting code, so there's no size, setback, or material list, just the containment requirement.