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

34. 040 must place the cart in the gutter area, or in a clearly accessible curb location if gutter placement is not possible; the cart cannot obstruct traffic or the sidewalk, and it cannot be set out on a stairway or in a garage except as the exemption section allows. The occupant or their agent must then remove the cart from the public right-of-way within 24 hours of collection. Subsection B lets the City authorize backyard or on-property service instead, when curbside collection is impossible because the gutter or curb space is too small (the code sets a minimum working area of 2 feet by 3 feet), there is no parking strip, the slope is unsuitable for carts, or another condition compromises safe collection.

040: occupants with a qualifying physical or mental disability, temporarily disabled occupants, and anyone over 62 years old may apply to receive backyard service at the same fee as curbside customers, using a City-approved 32-gallon-or-less customer can instead of the City cart; residents over 62 can request this at any time and must receive backyard service within 10 days of the request. 030, but charges the owner's account for damage caused by willful misconduct or failure to use reasonable care.