Bozeman, MT Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)

Section 32.02.040(C) of the Bozeman Municipal Code is the set-out rule for the City of Bozeman. Containers are allowed within the street right-of-way the night before and on the day of solid waste collection only, and they must be stored off the right-of-way the remainder of the time. The code prints no clock times, so the window is defined by the collection day itself: the night before and the day of pickup.

Alleys get one carve-out. Racks for compost only are allowed along the alley right-of-way, provided they are adequately maintained and do not encroach upon the driving area within the alley. The carve-out names compost racks, not trash totes or dumpsters, so those follow the general right-of-way rule.

The same section also controls what sits at the curb. For automated collection accounts, waste goes in a tote provided by the city. For dumpster collection accounts, it goes in a dumpster provided by the city. Subsection B makes it unlawful to cause or allow solid waste to be placed at the designated point of collection without being contained within a suitable container. When waste is too bulky or too large for the containers provided, the owner, occupant or operator can place it outside the containers only if they arrange for a special pickup or tag every item to be removed, and they are charged under § 32.02.060.

Subsection D adds a neighbor rule. No person or business can dump or place solid waste in a container belonging to another person, or on any other premises, without the consent of the owner of the container or premises.

Enforcement sits with the Department of Transportation and Engineering. Under § 32.02.050, the city manager, with approval of the City Commission, can adopt rules for operating and administering the article, and those rules are read as part of it.