Sanford, FL Landscaping Rules: Composting (2026)

Section 86-34 of the solid waste article generally bars accumulating any solid waste for more than seven days on public or private property for reasons of health, safety, welfare, sanitation and community appearance under subsection (17). That same subsection carves out backyard composting specifically: creation or maintenance of a backyard compost pile is considered recycling, not disposal, meaning it is not counted against the seven-day accumulation limit that applies to ordinary trash and yard waste. The only condition attached is that the pile must not result in the creation of a nuisance.

The code does not set a maximum compost pile size, require an enclosed bin, or mandate a particular composting method, so the rule is a narrow exemption from the general accumulation prohibition rather than an affirmative permitting or design standard. If a compost pile does create odor, pest or other nuisance conditions, it loses the benefit of the exemption and reverts to being treated like any other unlawfully accumulated solid waste under the same subsection.