Redwood City, CA Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Set-out window
- Noon day before pickup to noon day after
- Enforcing officer
- Health Officer (Public Works Services Director)
- Container standard
- Watertight, approved material, sanitary, lid closed
- Multi-unit rule
- Each unit's cart must be marked (Sec. 14.16)
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor under Sec. 14.10 after notice
Summary
Every occupied property in Redwood City must keep enough watertight garbage, recycling and organic-waste containers to hold everything generated between pickups. City Code Section 14.15 lets residents wheel carts to the curb only between noon the day before collection and noon the day after, and containers can never block a driveway, sidewalk, street or sight line.
A.Every person in possession, charge, or control of any premises shall provide a sufficient number of containers of sufficient capacity to hold all garbage, recyclables, and organic materials which are created, produced, or accumulated on such premises between the times of successive collections by the collector. Persons who have successfully obtained a waiver from the City pursuant to subsection (B) of Section 14.2 of this Chapter shall provide a sufficient number of containers of sufficient capacity to hold all garbage, recyclables, and organic materials which are created, produced, or accumulated on such premises between the times of successive self-haul disposals.B.Containers shall be placed curbside or street side in a manner that does not block any driveway, sidewalk or street, or impede pedestrian or vehicular traffic or sight lines.C.Containers may be placed curbside or street side so as to be readily accessible for removing and emptying by the refuse collector only between twelve o'clock (12:00) noon on the day preceding the scheduled collection and twelve o'clock (12:00) noon on the day immediately following the collection of refuse.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Zoning Code: Supplement 29 | City Code: Supplement 61 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
15 puts the placement duty on "every person in possession, charge, or control of any premises," who must provide a sufficient number of containers of sufficient capacity for the garbage, recyclables and organic materials the property produces between successive collections. 2(B) instead must size containers to cover the gap between self-haul trips. 13 the lids must stay on except when refuse is actually being placed in or removed from the can. 15(C) narrows the window for putting a cart out for pickup to between noon on the day before the scheduled collection and noon on the day after, so carts cannot sit at the curb all week.
16: each unit's receptacles must be plainly marked so ownership is clear. 28 lets the Health Officer settle any dispute over exactly where a receptacle should sit awaiting collection.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 14 does not attach a separate fine schedule to Section 14.15. Instead, Section 14.10 makes noncompliance with any provision of the Refuse chapter, once the Health Officer or a representative has given notice, a misdemeanor. That means a cart left at the curb outside the noon-to-noon window, or containers that block a sidewalk or driveway, can be cited as a chapter-wide violation after the City notifies the responsible party and the condition is not corrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I put my garbage cart at the curb in Redwood City?
Can my cart block part of the sidewalk?
Do apartment buildings need to label their garbage cans?
What happens if I do not comply with the cart placement rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Redwood City
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