North Charleston, SC Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Cart size
- 96-gallon standard, 65-gallon option
- Set-out window
- no more than 12 hrs early
- Curb by 7 a.m.
- on collection day
- Return window
- within 12 hrs after pickup
Summary
The City of North Charleston controls when garbage rollcarts sit at the curb: out no more than 12 hours before collection, back within 12 hours after, and off public property otherwise.
Garbage receptacles shall not be kept upon public property except when placed for collection on the curb on the day of collection. Garbage receptacles shall be placed at the curb prior to 7:00 a.m. on the day of collection. In no case shall such container be placed along the curb more than twelve (12) hours prior to the collection day. Containers shall be moved to private property within twelve (12) hours of collection.(3)All owner occupied condominiums, townhouses, and other multi-family complexes shall be considered as residential units. Collection shall be performed as prescribed in the preceding subsections.(4)All rental condominiums, townhouses, and other multifamily complexes of more than five (5) units shall be considered as commercial property and shall be treated as such. (Ord. No. 1993-14, 4-22-93; Ord. No. 2002-102, 12-23-02)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 75).
Full Breakdown
Every household gets one city-owned 96-gallon rollcart (a 65-gallon option exists for light generators) that must stay lidded and free of nuisance conditions. Carts cannot sit on public property except for collection: they go to the curb no earlier than 7:00 a.m. on collection day, no more than 12 hours ahead of that day, and must be pulled back to private property within 12 hours after pickup. Occupant-owned cans besides the city rollcart are not used for collection.
Violations & Fines
Setting a cart out more than 12 hours before pickup, leaving it curbside more than 12 hours after collection, or substituting a personal can for the city rollcart can result in missed collection and code enforcement action.
Frequently Asked Questions
How early can I put my garbage cart out?
How soon must I bring the cart back in?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in North Charleston
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Bin Placement Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Charleston County handle bin placement rules.