Sonoma County, CA Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)
Key Facts
- Service frequency
- Weekly, mandatory countywide
- Who must subscribe
- Single-family, multi-family, commercial premises
- Exemption grounds
- Undeveloped, inaccessible, shared, or space-limited
- First violation
- Written warning notice
- Repeat fines
- $100 / $200 / $500
Summary
Unincorporated Sonoma County requires every single-family, multi-family, and commercial property to subscribe to weekly solid waste, recycling, and organics collection through a county-franchised hauler, with limited exemptions for undeveloped or inaccessible parcels.
Mandatory Service. Unless exempted pursuant to this section, the owners or occupants of all single-family, multi-family and commercial premises shall subscribe to weekly solid waste, recyclable materials, and organic waste collection services provided by an authorized county franchisee.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 64 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
County Code § 22-3(a) makes weekly collection mandatory in unincorporated Sonoma County: owners or occupants of single-family, multi-family, and commercial premises must subscribe to weekly solid waste, recyclables, and organics service from the county's franchised hauler. Property owners can apply to the transportation and public works department for an exemption if the parcel is undeveloped, inaccessible to collection trucks, shares service with a neighboring household, or a commercial site lacks room for containers; commercial generators can also seek a partial organics-collection waiver. Waivers last five years and are revocable for violations or nuisance conditions. This applies only outside the nine incorporated cities, which run their own hauling programs.
Violations & Fines
A first violation draws a written warning; later violations carry fines of $100, $200, or $500 under § 22-24(f), issued as administrative citations appealable under Chapter 1 § 1-7.3.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is weekly trash pickup mandatory in unincorporated Sonoma County?
Can I get out of paying for county trash service?
Does this apply inside the City of Sonoma or Santa Rosa?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sonoma County
California rules heatmap·Compare Sonoma County to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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