Kern County, CA Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Placement location
- Curb, alley or hauler-accessible spot
- Timing
- Only at hauler-designated collection time
- Storage after pickup
- Behind front setback or in enclosure
- Scavenging
- Prohibited except owner or agents
- Nuisance trigger
- Accumulated trash under Section 8.28.110
- Civil penalty
- $250 per day, per violation
Summary
In unincorporated Kern County, containers set out for franchise pickup must sit at the curb, alley or another spot the hauler can reach, at the time the hauler designates for collection. Once collection is done, the owner must remove the bins from any public right-of-way and store them behind the required front-yard setback or inside an approved enclosure.
Containers intended for collection by a franchise hauler shall be placed at the curb, alley or other location accessible to the franchise hauler and as approved by the public official, at a time designated by the franchise hauler for collection. Following collection by the franchise hauler, containers shall be removed from any public right-of-way and returned to a storage location on the premises. Storage locations shall be behind the required front yard setback or in required enclosures.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 59 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
010. Containers meant for franchise collection must be placed at the curb, alley or another location the hauler can reach, at a time the hauler designates for that route. Once the hauler has collected, the owner must remove the containers from any public right-of-way and return them to a storage location on the premises, and that storage spot must sit behind the required front-yard setback or inside a required enclosure. 050 separately bars anyone other than the waste's owner, agents or employees from scavenging, tampering with, or salvaging from a container holding solid waste or source-separated recyclable materials, which keeps bins from being picked through once set out.
110 requires every person in possession or control of a property to keep it free of accumulated discarded materials that could produce odor, attract or harbor insects and rodents, invite plundering, or create a fire hazard; a property that is not kept clear is declared a public nuisance and is subject to the chapter's abatement procedures. The franchise hauler sets the specific collection day and window under its franchise agreement with the county, and containers left at the curb outside the set collection and storage windows can draw an enforcement notice under this chapter.
Violations & Fines
A container-placement or scavenging violation under Chapter 8.28 draws a civil penalty of $250.00 per day under Section 8.28.160, counted from the compliance date set in the county's administrative order until the condition is corrected. Letting discarded materials accumulate on the property in violation of Section 8.28.110 is also a public nuisance, which the enforcement officer can abate directly or refer to the district attorney or county counsel. Owners can contest a notice at a hearing under Section 8.28.130 within seven days of service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I put my trash and recycling containers for pickup?
Do I have to store my empty bins somewhere specific after pickup?
Can someone else go through my curbside recycling bin?
What happens if trash piles up on my property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kern County
California rules heatmap·Compare Kern County to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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