Chapel Hill Public Works collects household trash weekly using 95-gallon roll carts; Orange County Solid Waste Management collects recycling weekly in separate 95-gallon roll carts (919-968-2788). Trash collection starts at 6:00 a.m., and carts must be at the curb by then. Carts must be removed from the curb after collection. Bulky-item pickup is scheduled through the Public Works Department at 919-969-5100 or the SeeClickFix portal. Town Code Chapter 8 (Garbage, Trash and Refuse) governs collection rules; non-compliance is enforced through Code Enforcement (919-969-5043; codeenforcement@townofchapelhill.org).
Residential solid-waste collection in Chapel Hill is split between two agencies. (1) Trash and yard waste — the Town of Chapel Hill Public Works Department (919-969-5100; publicworks@townofchapelhill.org) collects household trash and yard waste weekly for single-family homes and duplexes within Town limits. The Town's Trash and Yard Waste page directs residents to (a) place trash and yard waste at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the assigned collection day, (b) use the Residential Trash Collection Map to look up the assigned day for the address, and (c) place yard waste in clearly marked containers, biodegradable paper bags, or bundled (no plastic bags). The Town discontinued weekly yard-waste and bulky-item pickup as a routine route — residents now schedule bulky-item collection through the Public Works Department at 919-969-5100 or via the SeeClickFix online portal. (2) Recycling — Orange County Solid Waste Management (919-968-2788) collects recycling weekly in 95-gallon roll carts for single-family homes and duplexes within Chapel Hill Town limits. The 'Orange County NC Recycles' app (Apple Store / Google Play) shows the collection calendar by address. (3) Town Code Chapter 8 (Garbage, Trash and Refuse) prescribes the use of Town-provided containers, prohibits scavenging, and authorizes Code Enforcement action when carts are left out beyond the collection window or placed where they obstruct sidewalks or roadways. The Town's 'Good Neighbors' page reminds residents that trash carts left at the curb, garbage left in plain view, and uncovered containers can be code-enforcement issues. (4) Holiday schedule — Orange County publishes a Solid Waste Holiday Schedule that slides collection by one day for the rest of the week when a holiday falls on a collection day. (5) Bulky items — appliances and furniture require advance scheduling through Public Works at 919-969-5100. (6) HOA / apartment complexes — multi-family properties use private dumpster service (not Town curbside) under contracts with licensed Orange County haulers.
Carts left at the curb beyond the collection window, set out before the night before collection, obstructing sidewalks / roadways, or left uncovered creating wildlife or odor nuisances are enforced under Town Code Chapter 8 and the general nuisance provisions. Code Enforcement (919-969-5043) issues a Notice of Violation; civil penalties under standard NC municipal authority (typically up to $500/day, each day a separate offense) may apply, and the violation may be cited as a Class 3 misdemeanor under NCGS 14-4.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Chapel Hill, NC
Chapel Hill does not have a code provision specifically prohibiting or permitting artificial turf. Where landscape material is required under LUMO Appendix A...
Chapel Hill, NC
Chapel Hill does not mandate native plants in private landscapes but actively favors them through LUMO Appendix A landscape standards and through LUMO Sectio...
Chapel Hill, NC
Rainwater harvesting is legal in Chapel Hill. NCGS 160A-202 prohibits cities from banning cisterns and rain barrels used for irrigation: 'No city ordinance m...
Chapel Hill, NC
Chapel Hill collects household trash and yard waste weekly, starting at 6 a.m. Find your day on the town's Residential Trash Collection Map; recycling is han...
Chapel Hill, NC
Chapel Hill's LUMO permits one accessory apartment per single-family lot in residential zoning districts. The Town Council adopted comprehensive LUMO amendme...
Chapel Hill, NC
Chapel Hill Town Code Chapter 10 Article IV limits food trucks to private parking lots in downtown Chapel Hill and surrounding commercial districts. Only one...
See how Chapel Hill's trash bin storage rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.