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Sarasota County, FL Trash & Recycling: Bulk Item Disposal (2026)

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

Key Facts

Annual bulk allowance
20 cubic yards, 4 pickups/year
Beyond the allowance
Paid Supplemental Collection Service
Used oil limit
5 gallons, screw-cap containers
Tire limit per pickup
4 tires, up to 25 inches
Refrigerators/freezers
Doors must be removed first

Summary

Sarasota County's Franchisee will haul away large household items like furniture, mirrors and fence panels, but only up to 20 cubic yards per household four times a year, and only after the customer calls to schedule the pickup. Refrigerator and freezer doors must be removed first, and used oil, oil filters and tires each carry their own quantity caps.

City-specific rules exist: North Port, and Sarasota have their own bulk item disposal rules that differ from Sarasota County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

Bulk Waste means all large household items that do not require extraordinary management, do not fit into a Curbside Container, and are not covered by the definitions for White Goods and E-Waste including, but not limited to, bathroom fixtures, furniture, mirrors, glass doors, fence panels, plywood, ladders, and carpet. ... Customers shall notify the Franchisee of the need for the collection of Residential Waste not placed in Curbside Containers not including properly prepared Program Recyclables or Yard Trash. Such waste included in the Solid Waste Assessment are limited to 20 Cubic Yards, 4 times per year. Additional collections are subject to Supplemental Collection Service. Doors to refrigerators or freezers shall be removed prior to being Set Out for Collection. Customers may Set Out up to five gallons of used oil placed in plastic containers marked as "used oil" with screw-on lids, and up to five oil filters placed in clear zip-lock plastic bags. Customers may Set Out up to four automotive Tires, on or off the rim, of up to 25 inches in diameter.

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 98).

Full Breakdown

Bulk Waste is defined in § 106-36 as large household items that do not require extraordinary management, do not fit into a Curbside Container, and are not White Goods or E-Waste, including bathroom fixtures, furniture, mirrors, glass doors, fence panels, plywood, ladders and carpet. Section 106-47(b)(12) governs how customers get it collected: rather than setting bulk items out with the regular garbage, the customer must first notify the Franchisee that a pickup is needed. That service is included in the Solid Waste Annual Assessment only up to 20 cubic yards per household, four times per year; anything beyond that quota shifts to a paid Supplemental Collection Service arranged separately with the Franchisee.

The subsection layers on preparation rules for specific item types: refrigerator and freezer doors must be removed before being set out, guarding against a well-known entrapment hazard. Used oil is capped at five gallons, and it must be in plastic containers labeled "used oil" with screw-on lids, with up to five oil filters allowed if bagged in clear zip-lock bags. Tires are capped at four per pickup, on or off the rim, and cannot exceed 25 inches in diameter. Class II residential customers using dumpster service face an identical 20 cubic yard, four-times-a-year cap and the same item-specific rules under the parallel provision at § 106-47(c)(12).

Commercial customers seeking a bulk pickup, such as a special collection of Bulk Waste, must instead arrange it directly with the Franchisee for an additional fee under § 106-47(a)(32) and § 106-47(e)(10).

Violations & Fines

Setting out more than the 20-cubic-yard, four-times-a-year bulk allotment without arranging paid Supplemental Collection Service, or failing to strip refrigerator/freezer doors, oil filters, or exceeding the five-tire limit, can draw a Code Enforcement civil citation under § 106-60: a written warning for a first offense, then escalating penalties of $200, $300, and $500 for repeat violations within five years, with each day a violation continues counted as a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much bulk waste can Sarasota County haul away for free each year?
Your Annual Assessment covers up to 20 cubic yards of bulk items across four pickups per year, per § 106-47(b)(12); you must call the Franchisee to schedule each pickup, and anything beyond that requires paid Supplemental Collection Service.
Do I need to do anything before setting out an old refrigerator?
Yes. Section 106-47(b)(12)(a) requires the doors to be removed from refrigerators and freezers before they are set out for collection, to prevent entrapment hazards.
Can I put out old tires with my bulk waste?
Up to four automotive tires per pickup, on or off the rim and no larger than 25 inches in diameter, are allowed under § 106-47(b)(12)(c).
What counts as Bulk Waste versus regular trash?
Section 106-36 defines Bulk Waste as large household items that will not fit in a curbside container and are not White Goods or E-Waste, such as furniture, mirrors, glass doors, fence panels, plywood, ladders and carpet.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Sarasota County

All Sarasota County rules

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