Fargo, ND Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Out time
- Not before 6 p.m. day before
- In time
- By 6 p.m. on pickup day
- Latest set-out
- No later than 8 a.m. pickup day
- Alley lots
- Cart at rear, not street
- Winter duty
- Owner keeps area snow-free
Summary
Fargo requires household garbage carts to sit at the curb or alley berm only between 6 p.m. the night before collection and 8 a.m. collection morning, then be pulled back by 6 p.m. that same day.
Containers must be placed on the berm not earlier than 6:00 p.m. on the day prior to the day of collection nor later than 8:00 a.m. on the morning of collection; and shall be removed from the berm not later than 6:00 p.m. on the day of collection. Where there are alleys, containers must be placed at the rear of the property. During the winter months, the area where the containers are placed must be kept clear of snow so that the containers are accessible. During windy conditions, the property owner must take appropriate steps to ensure that the container does not blow away and the city will not be responsible for cans which are lost or damaged as a result of such windy conditions. The following materials will not be picked up by waste trucks: ashes, bricks, concrete pieces, building materials, plaster, sod, animal manure, tree trunks or tree branches except as provided in § 13-0501.
Source: 1952 Rev. Ord. 13-0504, 1200 (1965), 1245 (1967), 2366 (1987), 2457 (1989), 3032 (1999), 4715 (2009).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 13-0504 sets exact placement windows for city-supplied garbage containers: out on the berm no earlier than 6 p.m. the day before pickup, off the berm by 6 p.m. on pickup day, never later than 8 a.m. that morning. Properties with alley access must set carts at the rear of the property, not the street. Owners must keep the container area clear of snow in winter and secure carts against blowing away in high wind; the city is not liable for damaged or lost cans.
Violations & Fines
Collection crews can skip carts placed outside the approved window, and the solid waste operations manager can direct crews to bypass noncompliant premises entirely, leaving the owner still liable for collection fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
How early can I put my garbage cart out in Fargo?
When do I have to bring the cart back in?
Where does my cart go if I have an alley?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fargo
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