Okaloosa County, FL Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Cart placement
- within 3 feet of pavement edge or curb
- Max cart weight
- 250 pounds including contents
- Collection method
- automated side-arm loading
- Non-collection
- franchisee posts written refusal notice
- Handicap service
- rear/side pickup, no extra charge
- Governing law
- County Code § 11-191(a), (g)
Summary
Okaloosa County's residential solid waste franchisee collects only from carts, and automated side-arm trucks require carts within three feet of the pavement edge, curb, or travel lane. Carts and contents cannot exceed 250 pounds. Loose refuse outside a cart goes uncollected, and crews tag any non-compliant cart with a written notice explaining the refusal.
For purposes of automated pickup, carts shall be placed within three feet of the edge of pavement, back of curb, or edge of travel lane on dirt roads. In the event an appropriate location cannot be agreed upon, the public works director or his/her designee shall designate the location. The franchisee shall provide this service, without additional charge, at the rear or side of the residence for qualified handicapped persons. ... The franchisee shall provide curbside automated collection (side arm loading method). The customer will place solid waste in the cart and place it curbside. No cart, including the cart and its contents, shall exceed 250 pounds. The franchisee will place the empty cart curbside. ... If not collected, franchisee shall immediately place a notice on the receptacle, container or waste explaining why the material was not collected.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23).
Full Breakdown
County Code § 11-191(a) sets the placement and handling rules for the single franchisee that runs residential curbside pickup countywide in the unincorporated area. For automated pickup, a cart must sit within three feet of the edge of pavement, back of curb, or edge of the travel lane on dirt roads; if the household and the hauler can't agree on a spot, the public works director or a designee picks the location. The franchisee uses curbside automated collection, meaning a side-arm loader lifts and empties the cart mechanically, so a cart plus its contents cannot exceed 250 pounds or it risks jamming the arm.
No loose refuse outside a cart is collected, with the sole exception of bulk waste set out under a separate subsection. 084(1)(b), Florida Statutes, and certify no able-bodied person lives there. If a cart or item isn't set out under these rules, Section 11-191(g) does not require the franchisee to collect it; instead, the crew must immediately post a written notice on the receptacle, container, or waste itself explaining why it was skipped, giving the resident a chance to fix the placement before the next route.
Violations & Fines
There's no fixed fine tied to bad cart placement itself: under Section 11-191(g), a misplaced or overloaded cart is simply left uncollected with a posted refusal notice until corrected. Article IV violations more broadly are treated as civil infractions under Section 11-186, and code enforcement can act on a pattern of noncompliance through the county's standard enforcement process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly should I put my trash cart in Okaloosa County?
What happens if my cart is blocked or improperly placed?
Is there a weight limit on my garbage cart?
Can I get cart pickup at my door if I have a disability?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Okaloosa County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Okaloosa County to another location·View the Florida trash & recycling overview
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