Aurora, CO Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Placement
- Behind front building line, within 12 in.
- Early set-out cutoff
- 5:00 p.m. day before collection
- Must return
- Within 12 hours after pickup
- Commercial dumpsters
- Enclosure or site-plan screening required
- Waivers
- Granted by director of housing & community services
Summary
Aurora requires garbage, rubbish and debris containers to stay behind the front building line and within 12 inches of the principal building, with set-out limited to the day before collection.
All trash containers shall be kept behind the front line of the principal building and within 12 inches of the principal building. If trash containers are screened, the screening shall be placed behind the front line of the principal building. The storage area shall be kept free of loose garbage, rubbish or debris. Trash containers/dumpsters in commercial districts shall be screened by a dumpster enclosure or as stipulated on a site plan. Waivers may be granted by the director of housing and community services when placement behind the front line of the principal building of the house or a dumpster enclosure at a commercial property would create an unreasonable hardship.
(b) All food service establishments shall separate all garbage, not otherwise disposed of in garbage grinders from other rubbish and debris in a separate approved container for separate collection. Food service establishments shall store grease, including material from grease interceptors (traps) and waste meat products to be picked up for collection and disposal by rendering plants, in approved garbage containers.
(c) Sufficient containers shall be provided or collected frequently enough so that garbage, rubbish and debris shall not overflow or exceed storage capacity.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-30, passed June 22, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under City Code § 114-27, all trash containers on a property must be kept behind the front line of the principal building and within 12 inches of it; any screening must also sit behind that front line, and commercial dumpsters need an enclosure or site-plan screening. Section 114-29(c) separately restricts curb placement: containers cannot go into the right-of-way, front yard, or corner-lot side yard before 5:00 p.m. the day before collection, and must come back in within 12 hours after pickup. The director of housing and community services can waive the placement rule for hardship cases.
Violations & Fines
A violation triggers a notice and, after arraignment, a five-day (guilty plea) or 30-day (trial conviction) window to correct before the City abates it directly and bills the owner, per §§ 114-27 and 114-29.
Frequently Asked Questions
How early can I put my trash cart at the curb in Aurora, CO?
Where must trash containers sit the rest of the week?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Aurora
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Bin Placement Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Arapahoe County handle bin placement rules.