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Long Beach, CA Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Screening wall
min. 5'6" solid masonry, 3 sides
Gate
must be visually solid
Landscape buffer
2 ft wide if visible from street
Shrub size
min. 5-gallon, grows to 4 ft
Applies to
new/remodeled development projects

Summary

New development and remodeled commercial, multifamily and mixed-use sites in Long Beach must enclose trash receptacles on three sides by a solid masonry wall at least five feet six inches tall under LBMC § 21.45.167, with a solid gate and, if visible from the street, a two-foot landscape buffer.

All required trash receptacles shall be developed according to the following standards:A.Minimum Size. Each trash receptacle area shall have adequate area to contain a size appropriate to the demands of the use and to accommodate separation of materials for recycling.B.Screening. All trash receptacles shall be enclosed on at least three (3) sides by a solid masonry wall of minimum height five feet, six inches (5'6"). The receptacle shall not be visible above the wall. A visually solid gate shall be provided.C.Location. All trash areas shall be located and arranged so as to be readily accessible to those using the trash receptacle as well as to trash pickup vehicles.D.Landscaping. All trash areas if visible from a street shall be further screened with a two foot (2') wide landscape strip.

Source: Long Beach Municipal CodeView official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 52 Update 1 | City Charter: Supplement 5).

Full Breakdown

167 sets citywide zoning standards for trash receptacle areas built as part of development projects. The receptacle area's minimum size must be sized to the demands of the specific use and must accommodate separation of materials for recycling, there's no flat square-footage figure, so larger uses need larger enclosures. Screening is the core requirement: the receptacle must be enclosed on at least three sides by a solid masonry wall standing a minimum of five feet six inches tall, high enough that the receptacle itself isn't visible above it, plus a visually solid gate closing the open side.

Location must keep the enclosure accessible both to the people using it and to the trucks that service it, it can't be placed somewhere a collection vehicle can't reach. Where the enclosure is visible from a street, a two-foot-wide landscape strip is required in addition to the wall, planted with shrubs of at least five-gallon size selected to grow to a four-foot height, with vines added to the satisfaction of the Director of Planning and Building. 60.

Violations & Fines

Long Beach makes noncompliance with any mandatory Municipal Code requirement a misdemeanor by default under § 1.32.010, punishable by up to $1,000 and six months in jail, with each day of continued noncompliance a separate offense, and treats any condition violating the Code as a public nuisance the City may summarily abate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall must a trash enclosure wall be in Long Beach?
At least five feet six inches, per LBMC § 21.45.167(B). The wall must be solid masonry, enclose the receptacle on at least three sides, keep the container out of view above the wall, and include a visually solid gate.
Does a Long Beach trash enclosure need landscaping?
Yes, if it's visible from a street. Section 21.45.167(D) requires a two-foot-wide landscape strip planted with shrubs of at least five-gallon size that grow to a height of four feet, to further screen the enclosure from public view.
What happens if a business doesn't build a compliant trash enclosure?
The Code makes noncompliance with any mandatory Municipal Code requirement a misdemeanor under § 1.32.010, punishable by up to $1,000 or six months in jail, with each day treated as a separate offense; the City can also declare the condition a public nuisance and abate it.

Sources & Official References

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