Mendocino County, CA Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)

Mendocino County Code Chapter 9A.16 (Containers) sets placement rules for the unincorporated County. Under Section 9A.16.030, single-family dwelling carts must be placed immediately adjacent to and accessible from a well-maintained all-weather alley where one exists, or otherwise 'immediately adjacent to the nearest County or State maintained road, and accessible to the franchised collector without the necessity of entering a fenced yard.' Multi-family dwellings, businesses, motels, and mobile-home parks must place containers immediately adjacent to and accessible from the nearest County or State road, or at a location mutually agreed with the hauler; disputes are resolved by the County. Alternate on-site locations are allowed if the customer and hauler agree, and the customer may pay an additional charge per the franchise schedule. Section 9A.16.010 limits timing: carts may be set out no earlier than 12 hours before pickup, must be removed within 12 hours after, and otherwise stored at least 10 feet from the vehicular right-of-way and never left continuously at the curb. Section 9A.16.020 requires enough container capacity to hold all refuse between pickups, and lets the County review and require adjustments to container number and size. SB 1383 generators must also provide adequately sized, labeled, or color-coded blue, green, and gray containers.