San Marcos, CA Landscaping Rules: Composting (2026)
Key Facts
- Composting definition
- Municipal Code § 8.68.020
- On-site volume cap
- 100 cubic yards
- On-site area cap
- 750 square feet
- Opt-out authority
- § 8.68.520(a) on-site management
- State regulation cited
- 14 CCR § 18984.9(c)
Summary
San Marcos Municipal Code Section 8.68.020 caps qualifying Community Composting activity at 100 cubic yards and 750 square feet of feedstock and compost on site at any one time, and Section 8.68.520(a) lets residents manage organic waste this way instead of subscribing to full green-container service.
Community Composting means any activity that composts green material, agricultural material, food material, and vegetative food material, alone or in combination, and the total amount of feedstock and Compost on-site at any one time does not exceed 100 cubic yards and 750 square feet, as specified in 14 CCR Section 17855(a)(4); or, as otherwise defined by 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(8). ... Generators may additionally 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).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 14 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
68's organic waste program, which implements state SB 1383 recycling regulations. 020 defines "Community Composting" as any activity composting green material, agricultural material, food material and vegetative food material, alone or combined, so long as the total feedstock and compost on site at any one time does not exceed 100 cubic yards and 750 square feet, tracking 14 CCR Section 17855(a)(4) and 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(8). 9(c) rather than placing all food scraps and yard trimmings in the City's green container. 530(l). 530.
Violations & Fines
Composting activity is not separately penalized, but a generator who exceeds the Community Composting size threshold and fails to comply with the resulting green-container subscription duties under Section 8.68.520 or 8.68.530 is subject to the notice-of-violation and administrative citation process in Section 8.68.610, with fines of $50 to $500 depending on the number of violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much material can I compost in my San Marcos backyard?
Does composting at home get me out of the green-container program?
What materials count toward the Community Composting limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Marcos
California rules heatmap·Compare San Marcos to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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Composting in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Diego County handle composting.