Berkeley requires trash, recycling, and compost carts to be stored out of public view between collection days, typically in a side yard, rear yard, garage, or screened enclosure.
Berkeley Municipal Code provisions on property maintenance and blight (BMC 14.48 and 11.28) require residents to store refuse carts off the public right of way and screened from street view when not set out for collection. Carts left at the curb between pickups, or stored in front-yard setbacks visible from the sidewalk, can be cited as a nuisance. Acceptable storage includes the side yard behind a gate, the rear yard, the garage or carport, or a code-compliant enclosure. Multi-family properties must provide a permanent refuse enclosure sized for the carts assigned to the building, typically conditioned through the use permit and fire code. Repeated violations can trigger escalating administrative penalties from Code Enforcement, reachable at (510) 981-5450.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Berkeley, CA
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