Large tree/shrub trimmings and bulky or excessive refuse that routine collection can't handle are picked up as "extra refuse" under the director's regulations, at the owner's request, for a fee covering actual cost. Building and demolition debris is not collected by the City.
Durham City Code Sec. 58-99 handles bulky and excessive refuse: large tree and shrub trimmings, bulky and excessive amounts of refuse, leaves, and yard rakings beyond routine collection are handled as "extra refuse" under the director's rules, at the owner's request and for a fee to cover actual cost. Stumps, trunks, and limbs must be cut to sizes two adults can load and piled for easy access. The City does not haul building or demolition debris from contractors (Sec. 58-154), tires (Sec. 58-156), or manufacturing refuse (Sec. 58-153) — those are the owner's responsibility. The City also offers free curbside bulky pickup for a limited number of items per week; check durhamnc.gov to schedule.
Improperly set-out or oversize bulky material may be left uncollected. Placing prohibited debris (construction, tires) out for regular pickup violates Chapter 58 and draws a remedial fee (Sec. 58-8).
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
durham-county-nc
Backyard composting is legal in Durham and the city offers a curbside food-waste program. Compost piles must be maintained so they do not harbor rodents or p...
durham-county-nc
Durham has no ordinance banning artificial turf in residential yards. It counts toward impervious-surface and lot-coverage limits under the UDO, and cannot b...
durham-county-nc
Durham lies in the Neuse River and Falls Lake watersheds, where state and UDO riparian buffer rules require a 50-foot protected buffer of native vegetation a...
durham-county-nc
Rain barrels and cisterns are legal and encouraged in Durham; no county ordinance bans collecting rooftop rainwater. Durham has historically offered subsidiz...
durham-county-nc
Durham enforces a year-round odd/even irrigation ordinance and can impose tighter water-shortage stages. As of June 2026 Durham is in Stage 2, which bans spr...
durham-county-nc
Durham declares dense weeds, vines, briars and undergrowth a public nuisance when they harbor pests or sit near buildings. Overgrowth over 12 inches high mus...
See how Durham County's bulk item disposal rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.