San Diego County, CA Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Earliest set-out
- 6:00 p.m. day before collection
- Latest removal
- 12:00 p.m. day after collection
- Storage location
- Adjacent to, bordering premises
- Governing law
- San Diego County Code § 68.571(h)
- Applies to
- Unincorporated County only
Summary
In unincorporated San Diego County, trash and recycling carts can't hit the curb before 6 p.m. the day before pickup or stay out past noon the next day.
No owner, occupant, or operator shall place, deposit, or allow any containers to remain on a street, curb, sidewalk, or any other place in a public or private right of way before 6:00 p.m. of the day prior to the regular day for collection by a collector or CRMC, or after 12:00 p.m. on the day following collection day. Owners, occupants, and operators shall place their containers in a location immediately adjacent to and bordering their premises unless otherwise arranged by collector or CRMC and approved by Director.
(i) A violation of this section shall be charged as an infraction, except that an owner, occupant, or operator convicted of two or more violations of this section in a one-year period may, at the discretion of the prosecutor, be charged with a misdemeanor. (Added by Ord. No. 10036 (N.S.), effective 2-26-10; amended by Ord. No. 10253 (N.S.), effective 3-8-13; amended by Ord. No. 10729 (N.S.), effective 6-4-21; amended by Ord. No. 10927 (N.S.), effective 1-10-25)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-141: Administrative: Current through Ord. No. 11007 (N.S.), effective 7-10-26 | Regulatory: Current through Ord. No. 11008 (N.S.), effective 7-24-26).
Full Breakdown
County Code § 68.571(h) bars owners, occupants, and operators from placing or leaving solid waste, recycling, or organics containers on a street, curb, sidewalk, or public or private right-of-way earlier than 6:00 p.m. the day before the regular collection day, or later than 12:00 p.m. the day after collection. Outside that window, carts belong back on the property, in a spot immediately adjacent to and bordering the premises unless the collector or CRMC arranges otherwise with County approval. Section (g) separately bars placing containers so they block neighboring driveways, mailboxes, utilities, or easements.
Violations & Fines
Infraction for a first or second violation within a year; a third violation in that period can be charged as a misdemeanor at the prosecutor's discretion.
Frequently Asked Questions
How early can I put my cans out in unincorporated San Diego County?
How long can empty containers sit at the curb?
Does this rule apply inside the City of San Diego?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Diego County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Diego County to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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