Murfreesboro, TN Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Set out
- No earlier than 6 p.m. prior day
- Bring in
- By 6 p.m. collection day
- Storage
- Out of sight, never front yard
- Clearance
- 3 feet from other objects
Summary
Murfreesboro residents must set garbage carts out no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before pickup, keep them 3 feet from other objects, and bring them back out of sight: never storing carts in the front yard.
Refuse containers shall be placed for collection in the designated area no earlier than 6:00 p.m. on the day before the designated collection day. In order to ensure collection on the collection day, all refuse containers should be at their designated collection area by 6:00 a.m. on the collection day. A refuse container is to be removed from the collection area on the collection day and shall be stored out of sight from the public street. Containers must be removed from the curb, street, or alleyway no later than 6:00 p.m. on the day of collection. A refuse container may not be stored or maintained in the area commonly known and referred to as the front yard.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 18 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Murfreesboro's Solid Waste Department controls exactly when and where a City-issued refuse cart can sit outside. Carts can't hit the curb before 6:00 p.m. the evening ahead of collection and need three feet of clearance from any object, including a second cart, without blocking power lines, tree branches, parked cars, or traffic. They can't go on a public sidewalk, in the street, or in a drainage ditch without the City's permission. After pickup, the cart has to come back off the curb by 6:00 p.m. that same day and be stored out of sight from the street, the code specifically bars keeping it in the front yard.
Violations & Fines
The Solid Waste Department can confiscate carts stored or placed in violation of the code, and unsatisfactory containers may be removed and disposed of after the City tries to notify the owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
How early can I put my Murfreesboro trash cart at the curb?
Can I store my garbage cart in the front yard between pickups?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Murfreesboro
Compare Murfreesboro to another location·View the Tennessee trash & recycling overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.