Johnson County, KS Trash & Recycling: Bulk Item Disposal (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Art. 6, § 1, Solid Waste Management Code
- Bulky waste defined
- Art. 2, § 1(e)
- Exempt from bagging/covering
- Bulky waste and agricultural waste
- Still banned
- Vector attraction, unsightliness, odor
- Rate structure
- Bulky waste excluded from base volume
- Penalty
- Class I Infraction, $100-$500 fine
- Adopted
- Res. No. 068-10, 2010 Edition
Summary
Johnson County's Code of Regulations for Solid Waste Management lets residents set out bulky items like furniture, appliances, tires, and tree limbs without bagging or covering them, but Art. 6, Sec. 1 still holds the property owner and occupant responsible for keeping that bulky waste from attracting pests, creating a fire hazard, looking unreasonably unsightly, or smelling off-site.
Sec. 1. - Storage and disposal requirements for solid waste generators. (a)The owner and the occupant of real property shall be jointly and severally responsible for the proper handling and disposal of all solid waste generated or accumulated on the property.(b)Solid waste shall be properly stored and shall not:(1)Be kept in containers or bags other than those designed for that purpose and acceptable to the hauler except for bulky waste and agricultural solid waste;(2)Be allowed to attract, provide shelter, or create a breeding place for rats, flies, mosquitoes or other vectors;(3)Create a fire, health or safety hazard;(4)Be unreasonably unsightly;(5)Cause offensive odors off-site; or(6)Be allowed to remain uncovered in the rain or snow except for bulky waste and agricultural solid waste.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Resolutions: Supplement 14).
Full Breakdown
Article 2, Sec. " Article 6, Sec. 1 then sets the storage standard: the property owner and occupant are "jointly and severally responsible" for proper handling, and while solid waste generally must sit in hauler-approved containers and stay covered in rain or snow, bulky waste and agricultural waste are expressly exempted from both of those requirements. " Article 4, Sec. 5(b)(1)(iii) gives bulky waste another break: the county's volume-based rate structure, which caps a resident's base trash charge at the equivalent of a 95/96-gallon container, excludes "segregated bulky waste" from that volume calculation, so a couch or refrigerator set out separately does not count against the regular container limit.
The Code, adopted as Appendix G by Res. No. 068-10 (2010 Edition) under County Code Sec. 66-1, is enforced by the Johnson County Environmental Department. Violations are prosecuted as a "Class I Infraction" under Sec. 3 of Article 9, and multiple or repeated violations of any class are bumped to the next, more serious class with a higher fine attached.
Violations & Fines
Storing bulky waste so it attracts vectors, creates a fire or safety hazard, looks unreasonably unsightly, or causes off-site odors violates Article 6, Sec. 1 of the Solid Waste Management Code. Under Article 9, Sec. 3, that is a Class I Infraction punishable by a fine of not less than $100.00 nor more than $500.00, with each day of an ongoing violation counted separately and repeat violations bumped to the next, more serious class.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to bag bulky items like an old couch or fridge for pickup?
Can I leave bulky waste uncovered outside during rain?
Does bulky waste count toward my regular trash volume limit?
What's the fine for improperly storing bulky waste in Johnson County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Johnson County
Compare Johnson County to another location·View the Kansas trash & recycling overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.