Miami-Dade County, FL Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Set-out deadline
- No later than 7:00 a.m. on scheduled collection days
- Removal
- Cart must be removed on the day of collection
- Distance from pavement edge
- No more than 3 feet
- Clearance from objects
- At least 5 feet from other carts, mailboxes, guy wires
- Cart orientation
- Front of the cart faces the street, lid closed
- Notice period
- Up to 14 days to cure a notice of violation
- Enforcement
- Daily civil violation notices or removal billed under Section 15-14
Summary
In unincorporated Miami-Dade, carts go to the curb only on scheduled collection days, no later than 7:00 a.m., and come back in on collection day. The cart sits within 3 feet of the pavement edge, at least 5 feet from any other object, with its lid closed and the front facing the street.
All carts shall be placed at curbside or other designated collection area only on scheduled collection days no later than 7:00 a.m. and shall be removed on the day of collection. The cart shall be placed at the curbside adjacent to the property with the front of the cart facing the street and no more than three (3) feet from the edge of the pavement and no less than five (5) feet from any other cart, mailbox, utility-guy wire, or other objects to allow maneuverability of collection equipment. All efforts shall be made not to place the cart under a tree. The cart's lid shall remain closed for collection purposes. No pick-up will be provided for carts that have anything protruding from the top of the cart or placed on top of the cart. The customer shall not compact the material or otherwise place material in any cart in a manner that does not allow the contents of the cart to fall out, by their weight, upon the cart being lifted and turned upside down. The carts shall be placed in such a manner as not to obstruct pedestrian or vehicular passage.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 135).
Full Breakdown
Section 15-5(a) of the Miami-Dade County Code governs where and when residents in the unincorporated area put out their carts. Carts may be placed at the curbside or other designated collection area only on scheduled collection days, no later than 7:00 a.m., and must be removed on the day of collection. Leaving a cart at the curb overnight or on a non-collection day is itself a violation of the chapter.
Placement is measured. The cart goes at the curbside adjacent to your own property, with the front of the cart facing the street and no more than three (3) feet from the edge of the pavement. It must also sit no less than five (5) feet from any other cart, mailbox, utility-guy wire, or other object, so the automated truck arm can reach it. The code adds that all efforts shall be made not to place the cart under a tree, which keeps branches from blocking the lift. Carts may not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular passage.
Loading rules are part of the same paragraph. The cart's lid shall remain closed for collection purposes. No pick-up will be provided for carts that have anything protruding from the top or placed on top of the cart. Nothing may be compacted into the cart so that it fails to fall out, by its weight, when the cart is lifted and turned upside down.
The duty falls on the owner, manager, occupant, lessee, or other person responsible for the lot. The same paragraph bars keeping solid waste that is not containerized on the property, or on the adjoining right-of-way, easements or alleys, except as the chapter specifically authorizes. Related rules in Section 15-2 also bar uncontainerized waste at the curb at any time and require carts to stay with the property they were issued to.
The rule applies in the unincorporated area. A city inside the county that runs its own collection sets its own cart rules.
Violations & Fines
Failure to comply is a violation of Chapter 15. Under Section 15-5(b) the enforcement officer may serve a notice of violation giving a reasonable time to fix it, not to exceed 14 days, issue a uniform civil violation notice under Section 8CC-3, which may be issued each day until the violation is rectified, or direct the Department of Solid Waste Management to remove the material and bill the owner for a special collection under Section 15-14. Unpaid charges become a lien on the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time must I put my cart out in unincorporated Miami-Dade?
How far from the street and from other objects should the cart sit?
Will the truck empty an overloaded or lid-open cart?
Can I park the cart under a tree?
What happens if I ignore the placement rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Miami-Dade County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Miami-Dade County to another location·View the Florida trash & recycling overview
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