Cape Coral, FL Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)
Key Facts
- Service
- Mandatory for all dwellings/businesses
- Frequency
- Once per week, curbside
- Set-out window
- 5:00 p.m. day before to 5:00 a.m. pickup day
- Truck start time
- 6 a.m. (5 a.m. May 1-Sept 30)
- Receptacle limit
- 50 lbs, within 3 ft of curb
- No-pickup holidays
- 6 holidays incl. Thanksgiving, Christmas
Summary
Every single-family home, multi-family building, and commercial property in Cape Coral must subscribe to refuse service from the city's franchise hauler, which collects garbage, trash, and recyclables once a week at curbside, starting no earlier than 6:00 a.m. (5:00 a.m. from May through September).
(a)The owner of every single-family dwelling, multi-family dwelling and commercial establishment within the boundaries of the city shall receive refuse collection service from the city's authorized franchise hauler under the conditions and at the rates for refuse collection established by the City Council or authorized by this article. ... (b)The franchise hauler shall collect residential refuse under the following conditions:(1)Garbage and trash will be collected once per week at curbside or edge of street. Horticultural waste will be collected once per week at curbside or edge of street. ... The franchise hauler shall not allow single-family dwelling collection trucks to begin collection of refuse until on or after 6:00 a.m. Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the period from May 1 through September 30 of every year, the franchise hauler shall not allow single-family dwelling collection trucks to begin collection of refuse until on or after 5:00 a.m.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 38).
Full Breakdown
Section 9-66(a) makes refuse collection mandatory: the owner of every single-family dwelling, multi-family dwelling and commercial establishment in the city must receive service from the city's authorized franchise hauler at Council-set rates, whether they want it or not; Section 9-73(b) backs that up by making it unlawful for anyone besides the franchise hauler or a licensed construction cleanup contractor to collect refuse in the city. Section 9-67 spells out the actual residential schedule: garbage, trash, horticultural waste, and recyclables are each collected once a week at curbside or the edge of the street, with receptacles no more than 50 pounds and set within three feet of the curb and at least five feet from any obstruction.
the evening before. m. Bulky waste, such as furniture and mattresses, and white goods, such as appliances, are each picked up weekly at no extra charge to homes with one to four units. Pickup skips six holidays: Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
Violations & Fines
Hiring an unauthorized hauler instead of the city's franchise hauler violates Section 9-73(b). Illegally dumping refuse rather than using an approved, collected receptacle carries a fine of $40 to $500 and up to 30 days in jail under Section 9-70(b), and general noncompliance with the article is enforced through the city's code enforcement process under Sections 2-81 through 2-105, with each day of a continuing violation charged as a separate offense per Section 9-75.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is trash collection mandatory in Cape Coral, or can I opt out?
What time can the garbage truck start running in Cape Coral?
When can I put my trash cans out for pickup?
How often are garbage, recycling, and yard waste picked up?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cape Coral
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Cape Coral to another location·View the Florida trash & recycling overview
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Collection Schedule in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Lee County handle collection schedule.