Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Phoenix, AZ Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)

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

Key Facts

Earliest set-out
6:00 p.m. day before pickup
Must be curbside by
5:30 a.m. collection day
Must be removed by
5:30 a.m. next day
Enclosure clearance
2.5 ft minimum on all sides

Summary

Phoenix residents must set carts at the curb between 6 p.m. the night before and 5:30 a.m. on collection day, then pull them in by 5:30 a.m. the next morning.

To ensure containers are placed out on time, containers may be placed at the curb after 6:00 p.m. on the day preceding collection. Containers for street collection must be placed at the curb for service no later than 5:30 a.m. on the day of collection. They must be removed prior to 5:30 a.m. of the day after collection. It is unlawful to place or permit containers to remain adjacent to the curb except upon regular collection days. Containers must be stored, between collection days, on the user’s property so as not to interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

K. All solid waste and recycling container enclosures must be approved by the Director and constructed according to City Codes. The enclosures must be designed and constructed to allow for:

1. A minimum of two and one-half feet distance between all inside walls of the enclosure and the side edges of the solid waste container.

2. If the enclosure wall is over five feet high, an additional 12 inches of clearance between the top back edge of the solid waste container and the back wall of the enclosure will be required for each additional foot in height, up to a maximum clearance of six feet.

3. The front top edge of the solid waste container must not extend beyond the front face of the side wall.

4. Any variation or modifications must be approved by the Director. (Ord. No. G-4623, § 1, 2004; Ord. No. G-5756, 2012; Ord. No. G-5920, 2014)

Source: Phoenix City Code § 27-19View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance G-7524, passed June 17, 2026).

Full Breakdown

City Code § 27-19 controls residential solid waste and recycling carts. Containers may go to the curb starting 6:00 p.m. the day before collection, must be out no later than 5:30 a.m. on collection day, and must be removed before 5:30 a.m. the following day; leaving a cart at the curb outside that window is unlawful. Carts must open toward the street or alley and stay clear of pedestrian and vehicle paths between pickups. Any enclosure built around a cart needs Director approval and at least 2.5 feet of clearance on every side, with extra back-wall clearance once the enclosure walls exceed 5 feet.

Violations & Fines

Curbside carts left out past 5:30 a.m. the day after collection, or set out before the 6 p.m. window, violate § 27-19(J) and can draw a Neighborhood Preservation notice of violation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How early can I put my trash cart out in Phoenix?
Not before 6:00 p.m. the evening before your scheduled collection day, per City Code § 27-19(J).
How long can the cart stay at the curb after pickup?
It must be pulled back onto your property before 5:30 a.m. the day after collection.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Phoenix

All Phoenix rules

Compare Phoenix to another location·View the Arizona trash & recycling overview

Get notified when Bin Placement Rules in Phoenix, AZ changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.

Bin Placement Rules in Nearby Cities

How other cities in Maricopa County handle bin placement rules.

Glendale, AZ
Some Restrictions
Scottsdale, AZ
Some Restrictions
Tempe, AZ
Some Restrictions
Surprise, AZ
Some Restrictions
Goodyear, AZ
Some Restrictions
Chandler, AZ
Some Restrictions
Mesa, AZ
Some Restrictions
Gilbert, AZ
Some Restrictions