Prince William County, VA Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Container size
- 10-45 gallons
- Max load
- 50 lbs
- Curbside limit
- 24 hours
- Emptying frequency
- At least every 7 days
- Placement
- Out of travel lane, ground level
- Civil penalty
- Up to $50/day
Summary
Prince William County requires refuse and recycling containers to be watertight, ten-to-45-gallon, close-lidded bins, and limits curbside set-out to 24 hours. Containers must sit out of the travel lane at ground level for the hauler, and no one may pile loose trash on the street, sidewalk or yard outside an approved container.
Each householder, commercial establishment or person having refuse, recyclable materials or yard waste shall provide himself/herself with containers adequate to contain the materials generated at the premises... It shall be unlawful for any person to place refuse, recycling or yard waste in any street, alley or any other public place, or upon private property... unless such material is placed in an approved container. ...Refuse and recycling containers shall be made of durable, watertight, rust-resistant material and shall have close-fitting lids and handles to facilitate collection. Refuse and recycling containers for residences and commercial establishments shall be of not less than ten gallons nor more than 45 gallons in capacity with a load weight not to exceed 50 pounds. ...Refuse, recycling and yard waste containers shall, for the purpose of collection, be placed out of the vehicle travel way, at ground level and be made readily accessible to the collector... Containers shall be placed at the curb or agreed place and shall be placed out for no longer than 24 hours from the time of placement.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 46 Update 4).
Full Breakdown
Section 22-20(a) requires every household and business generating refuse, recyclables or yard waste to keep an 'approved container' adequate for what accumulates between pickups, and bars leaving loose refuse in any street, alley or public place, or on private property, outside of one. Section 22-20(b) spells out the container itself: durable, watertight, rust-resistant material with a close-fitting lid and handles, sized between ten and 45 gallons with a load weight capped at 50 pounds (mechanically-lifted containers are exempt from that size cap). ' Containers must stay in good repair, free of cracks, with lids kept closed except while being emptied (§ 22-20(e)), and must be emptied at least once every seven days (§ 22-20(f)).
For collection day, § 22-22 requires containers to sit out of the vehicle travel lane, at ground level, and readily accessible to the collector, whether at the curb or another spot agreed with the hauler, and caps curbside set-out at 24 hours from the time the container is placed.
Violations & Fines
Violating any container, storage or placement rule in this Article II is enforced under § 22-18: a civil penalty of up to $50 for each day the violation continues, with three civil penalties for the same or similar violation within a 24-month period elevating the case to a Class 3 misdemeanor.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can I leave my trash can at the curb in Prince William County?
What size garbage can does the county require?
Can I just leave loose trash bags by the curb without a can?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Prince William County
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