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St. Louis County, MO Trash & Recycling: Bulk Item Disposal (2026)

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

Key Facts

Bulky pickups
2 per year
Storage
3 ft behind main residential structure
Excluded
Scrap tires, refrigerators, washers, dryers, hot water heaters
Eligible dwellings
Residential 1 & 2 family
Demolition
Application under §607.865

Summary

Bulky household items in St. Louis County fall under SLCRO §607.120, which requires them to be stored at least 3 feet behind the main residential structure while they wait for collection. Two bulky waste collections per year are part of the minimum level of service owed to all residential 1 and 2 family dwellings. Scrap tires and appliances such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, and hot water heaters are excluded from that service.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of St. Louis County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Sec. 607.120. — Bulky waste must be stored at least three (3) feet behind the main residential structure. Two bulky waste collections per year are to be provided to all residential 1 & 2 family dwellings as part of minimum level of service … with the exception of scrap tires and appliances such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, hot water heaters, etc.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 85 | Traffic: Supplement 80).

Full Breakdown

Three separate ideas sit inside this one section. The storage rule is about yards and sight lines: a mattress or a sofa waiting for pickup belongs at least 3 feet behind the main residential structure, not parked in the front yard or left at the curb for days. The service rule is a floor rather than a ceiling. Two bulky collections per year is the minimum level of service that residential 1 and 2 family dwellings are entitled to, and it is tied to that dwelling type.

The exclusion list is what residents run into most often. Scrap tires and appliances, including refrigerators, washers, dryers, and hot water heaters, are carved out of bulky collection, so those items need their own arrangement even in a household that has not touched its two collections for the year. Demolition and construction debris is a different category again within Chapter 607. 865 from contractors and commercial owners. An owner occupied residential demolition is exempt from the fee but still has to file the application. Construction roll-offs cannot be over-filled, and they may not be stored in a floodplain unless the waste is in a container.

Violations & Fines

Cleanup carried out by the county can be charged back through a special tax bill, unabated violations can draw up to $1,000 per day, and a contractor handling demolition waste without the required application risks action against the contractor license.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get rid of an old refrigerator?
Not through bulky collection. Refrigerators sit in the same exclusion as washers, dryers, and hot water heaters, so arrange appliance service with your hauler or use a county household hazardous waste event.
Do I need a permit for a dumpster during a kitchen remodel?
An owner occupied residential demolition files the application under §607.865 but pays no fee. The roll-off itself cannot be over-filled, and it may not sit in a floodplain unless the waste is in a container.
Where do I keep a couch that is waiting for pickup?
At least 3 feet behind the main residential structure. §607.120 does not allow bulky items to wait in front of the house.
How many bulky pickups come with my service?
Two per year, as part of the minimum level of service for residential 1 and 2 family dwellings, with scrap tires and appliances excluded.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in St. Louis County

All St. Louis County rules

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