Madison requires trash and recycling carts be stored out of public view between collection days, typically in a side yard, rear yard, garage, or enclosure. Carts may not be stored in front yards.
Under MGO Chapter 27 Property Maintenance and zoning code provisions, trash and recycling carts must be stored so they are not visible from the street between collection days. Acceptable storage locations include side yards behind a gate or screen, rear yards, garages, basements, or purpose-built enclosures. Carts may not be stored in the front yard or within the front setback. Residents must keep carts in sanitary condition free of odors, pests, and overflowing waste. Overfilled carts with open lids are a property maintenance violation and may attract rodents, triggering Public Health enforcement. For alley-serviced properties, carts are commonly stored near the garage or alley apron but still must be set back from the public way between collections.
Carts visible from the street outside collection days, overflowing carts, or rodent-attractant conditions result in property maintenance violations under MGO 27.
Madison, WI
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Madison, WI
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See how Madison's trash bin storage rules stack up against other locations.
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