San Bernardino, CA Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Off-collection-day rule
- Containers kept out of public sight
- Street storage
- Prohibited except temporarily
- Lids
- Must stay closed at all times
- Alley storage
- Allowed if it doesn't block access
- Container damage
- Unlawful under § 8.24.060(C)
Summary
San Bernardino requires solid waste containers to stay out of the public right-of-way and out of sight except on collection day. Municipal Code Section 8.24.060 also bars storing carts in the street and sets rules for keeping bins clean, covered and undamaged.
All persons occupying or maintaining any premises within the city where garbage, organic waste and recyclable materials are created, produced or accumulated shall maintain sufficient standard containers for receiving and holding all garbage, organic waste and/or recyclable materials which are produced, created or accumulated on such premises. No containers shall be allowed to be stored in the public streets or rights-of-way. Except on days established for collection, all solid waste containers shall be placed out of sight of the public right-of-way, except for temporary containers, as described below. Containers may be stored in alleys but must not cause obstruction for emergency, solid waste collection or other vehicles.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-2: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. MC-1666, passed 8-5-2026).
Full Breakdown
060(A) requires every occupied property to keep enough standard containers on hand for its garbage, organics and recyclables, bars storing containers in public streets or rights-of-way, and requires that, except on collection day, all solid waste containers be kept out of sight of the public right-of-way, with temporary containers treated separately. Containers may sit in alleys as long as they do not block emergency, collection or other vehicles, and the code allows only temporary placement in public streets or rights-of-way. Commercial properties with tight space can ask the city in writing to let the hauler's bins or carts sit in a public parking lot for normal weekly collection.
060(B) requires all waste set out for collection to be in covered containers, bars overloading a container beyond its capacity, and makes the responsible party keep containers clean and sanitary so they do not become odorous, attract vermin or create a nuisance; lids must stay closed at all times while stored or set out. 060(C). 060(B) so collection access stays safe and efficient.
Violations & Fines
Leaving carts visible from the street outside of collection day, storing them permanently in the right-of-way, overloading a container, or leaving lids open can be enforced as a container-storage violation under Section 8.24.060 and, if waste spills or accumulates, as a nuisance under Section 8.24.070. Damaging or removing a hauler-owned container is a separate unlawful act under Section 8.24.060(C).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I leave my trash cans at the curb all week?
Do I have to keep the lid closed?
Can I store my cart in the alley behind my house?
What if my hauler's cart gets damaged?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Bernardino
California rules heatmap·Compare San Bernardino to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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Bin Placement Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle bin placement rules.