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San Clemente, CA Trash & Recycling: Bulk Item Disposal (2026)

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

Key Facts

Governing section
SCMC § 8.28.021
Container requirement
Not required for bulky items
Lawful set-out window
Only for scheduled pickup, per § 8.28.040
Earliest set-out time
5:00 p.m. day before collection
First-violation fine
$50

Summary

Bulky items like furniture and appliances don't have to go in a container under San Clemente's code, but Section 8.28.021 bans leaving them on a street, alley, sidewalk or visible part of a property except for a scheduled collection placed out under Section 8.28.040's timing rules.

Notwithstanding Section 8.28.020 B., bulky items need not be kept, stored, or placed for collection in containers. ... In addition to the foregoing, it shall be unlawful for any owner, tenant, or occupant of property within the City to allow any bulky items to be placed, deposited, abandoned, dumped, or maintained on any public or private street, alley, sidewalk, or right-of-way adjacent to said person's property or on any portion of said person's property that is visible from any public or private street, alley, sidewalk, or right-of-way, excepting only that it shall be permissible to place or deposit said bulky items for a scheduled collection in the locations and at the times authorized pursuant to Section 8.28.040.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Traffic: Supplement 30 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 66 Update 1).

Full Breakdown

020(B): bulky items such as furniture, mattresses and large appliances do not need to be kept, stored or placed in a container while awaiting pickup. That exception does not mean bulky items can sit out indefinitely. The same section makes it unlawful for any owner, tenant, or occupant to allow bulky items to be placed, deposited, abandoned, dumped, or maintained on any public or private street, alley, sidewalk, or right-of-way next to the property, or anywhere on the property that is visible from those public areas.

the day before the scheduled pickup, grouped with the customer's other containers at the curb or designated alley location. Anything left out before that window, or left visible from the street after the pickup, is treated the same as an unlawful dumping violation. 050, and the Utilities Director sets the schedule. A resident who needs to dispose of an item outside the regular schedule can also self-haul it under the self-hauler provisions of the chapter, so long as it goes to a facility that can legally accept it.

Violations & Fines

A bulky item left out before 5:00 p.m. the day before pickup, or visible from a public street or alley outside a scheduled collection window, violates Section 8.28.021 and is enforced the same as any other Chapter 8.28 violation under Section 8.28.210(C): $50 for a first offense, $75 for a second, and $100 for a third or later offense within the citation period, plus possible civil or criminal prosecution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I leave my old couch on the curb whenever I want?
No. Section 8.28.021 says bulky items don't need a container, but it's unlawful to leave them on a street, alley, sidewalk or visible part of your property except when set out for a scheduled collection under Section 8.28.040's timing, which starts no earlier than 5:00 p.m. the day before pickup.
What counts as a bulky item under San Clemente's code?
Section 8.28.021 doesn't spell out a strict list, but it applies to large items like furniture and appliances that don't fit a standard container; the Utilities Director can confirm how a specific item is treated.
What's the penalty for dumping a mattress on the sidewalk?
It's cited the same as any Chapter 8.28 violation under Section 8.28.210(C): $50 for a first violation, $75 for a second, and $100 for a third or later violation of the same rule, with the City able to skip a warning and cite immediately.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in San Clemente

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