Bellevue, WA Property Maintenance: Trash Bin Storage (2026)

Bellevue City Code 20.25E (Property Maintenance Code) requires that garbage, recycling, and yard waste carts be stored in a location not visible from the public right-of-way between collection days. Acceptable storage locations include: inside a garage, behind a solid fence or screen wall at least as tall as the cart, within an enclosed side-yard area, or behind landscaping that provides year-round screening. Carts may be placed at the curb no earlier than 5 PM the evening before collection and must be returned to their stored location by midnight on collection day. Multi-family properties must provide dedicated, screened enclosures for dumpsters and carts meeting design standards in Land Use Code 20.20.570. Bin enclosures for new construction must have solid walls on three sides and a self-closing gate. Violations are civil infractions enforced by Code Compliance with fines up to 250 dollars per day. First-time offenders typically receive a warning notice with 10 days to comply. Contact Code Compliance at 425-452-4570 to report violations.