El Dorado County, CA Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)
Key Facts
- Mandatory area
- South Lake Tahoe Basin & Cameron Park CSD
- Billing cycle
- Quarterly or bi-monthly
- Delinquency
- 15 days after billing date
- Service cutoff
- 60 days unpaid, 15-day notice
- Lien threshold
- 90+ days delinquent
Summary
Property owners in El Dorado County's mandatory collection area, covering the South Lake Tahoe Basin and the Cameron Park Community Services District, must pay solid waste collection fees whether or not they actually use the service. Fees are billed quarterly or bi-monthly under Code Section 8.42.210, and become delinquent 15 days after billing.
Each owner, occupant or person in possession, charge or control of any collection premises located in a mandatory collection area is hereby made liable jointly and severely for the payment of the solid waste collection, processing and disposal fees levied against such premises for required solid waste collection, processing and disposal services, irrespective of the actual use of the service provided by the district or grantee. Services made available to those premises required to receive such service shall be considered as services utilized. It shall be the primary duty of the owner of such premises to provide for the payment of the services.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 13 Update 4).
Full Breakdown
200, currently the South Lake Tahoe Basin townships described by section and range, plus the Cameron Park Community Services District boundaries. 210 makes every owner, occupant or person in control of premises in that area jointly and severally liable for collection, processing and disposal fees, regardless of whether the household actually sets out waste for pickup; the code treats the service as "utilized" once it is made available. 220, with payment due on billing and delinquency triggered 15 days later, followed by a finance charge and late penalty added monthly.
230 lets the County or its franchisee discontinue service after 60 days of nonpayment, but only after a 15-day written notice; paying the delinquent balance restores pickup on the next scheduled day. 240 even after service is cut off. 255 exempts specific situations: motel or hotel units where residential units are 25 percent or less of the total and the operator handles its own disposal, units lacking connected water and power, and commercial enterprises that self-haul in compliance with law; exemption claims must be filed under oath with the franchisee. 09.
Violations & Fines
Unpaid fees convert to a civil debt collectible like any other County debt (Section 8.42.240). Once a bill goes unpaid 90 or more days, the County can place the delinquent amount on the property as a special assessment and lien after a noticed Board hearing (Section 8.42.250), collected the same way as delinquent property taxes, including tax-sale penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay for trash service even if I don't use it?
What happens if I fall behind on my El Dorado County trash bill?
Can I get out of mandatory trash collection fees?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in El Dorado County
California rules heatmap·Compare El Dorado County to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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