Westminster, CA Property Maintenance: Trash Bin Storage (2026)

Under the City of Westminster's property-maintenance guidance ('Codes for a Better Community'), trash, garbage or recycling containers must be stored so they are not visible from any highway on days other than regularly scheduled pickup. Carts may be placed out for collection only the evening before or on the trash pickup day and should be moved out of public view at all other times. The residential collection program is operated by the Midway City Sanitary District (MCSD), whose rules require that containers be removed from the street within 12 hours after collection and kept in an area not visible from the street. These storage and screening expectations are city/district requirements that go beyond general California law, which does not set cart-screening standards. Improperly stored or perpetually curbside carts are a common code-enforcement complaint in Westminster's residential neighborhoods. Storing additional or unpermitted containers in public view, or leaving overflowing bins out between collection days, may draw a courtesy notice and then a citation from the Code Enforcement Division. Report cart-storage and screening issues to Code Enforcement at (714) 548-3246; questions about the carts themselves go to MCSD at (714) 893-3553.