Clearwater, FL Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Curb set-out window
- 7:00 p.m. night before to 7:00 a.m. after
- Clearance from structures
- At least 10 feet
- First violation
- Warning tag, no fine
- Second violation fine
- $10.00 per day on utility bill
- Enforcing agency
- Solid waste/general services department
- Repeat offender consequence
- Mandatory premium side/rear yard service
Summary
Clearwater requires residential garbage and recycling carts to sit at the curbline, at least ten feet from any structure or parked vehicle, and never inside the street or alley right-of-way. Carts cannot go out before 7:00 p.m. the night before pickup and must be pulled back by 7:00 a.m. the next morning under City Code Sec. 32.281, enforced by the solid waste/general services department.
(2)Collection locations.(a)Curbside pickup. Residential refuse and/or recycling containers shall be placed for collection on the ground at the curbline, immediately in front of and contiguous to owner's property and at least ten feet away from any permanent structure or vehicle and cannot obstruct pedestrian passage. The containers shall be placed for collection at ground level on the property, not within the right-of-way of a street or alley, and shall be accessible without entering into a building or shelter of any type. Exceptions may be granted with the approval of the director of solid waste/general service.(3)Container placement and removal.(a)Residential refuse and/or recycling containers and yard waste placed near the curb, street or alley shall be placed there no earlier than 7:00 p.m. on the evening preceding the collection day. The containers must be removed from the curb to a point adjacent to the side or rear of the structure by 7:00 a.m. of the following day. Any container not removed will be tagged by the solid waste/general services department with a warning. Second violators will be subject to a fine of $10.00 per day, which will be placed on the customer's utility bill.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 281 of the Clearwater City Code sets the placement rules for residential garbage and recycling containers picked up by the solid waste/general services department. Under subsection (2)(a), carts belong at the curbline directly in front of the customer's own property, at ground level, at least ten feet from any permanent structure or parked vehicle, and never left inside the paved street or alley right-of-way; the department can grant placement exceptions only with the director's approval. Subsection (2)(b) exempts any resident a physician certifies as physically unable to reach the curb: that customer's cart is collected at the side or rear of the building at no extra charge, while anyone else who simply wants that convenience pays the side/rear yard premium fee listed in Appendix A.
the following morning. A cart left out past that window gets tagged with a written warning by solid waste/general services on the first occurrence. There is no grace period beyond that single warning; the rule is enforced cart-by-cart on every scheduled route, not just on complaint.
Violations & Fines
A first late cart earns only a tag and written warning from solid waste/general services. A second violation is a $10.00-per-day fine added directly to the customer's city utility bill for every day the container remains out past 7:00 a.m., under Sec. 32.281(3)(a). Repeat offenders lose curbside privileges altogether and are placed on mandatory side or rear yard premium service, billed at the stipulated Appendix A rate, until compliance improves.
Frequently Asked Questions
How early can I put my trash cart at the curb in Clearwater?
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How far from my house does my cart need to sit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clearwater
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