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Frederick County, VA Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)

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

Key Facts

Eligible dwellings
single-family, frontage on public road, Urban Service Area
Legal basis
Code of Virginia Section 15.2-930
Adopted by
Resolution No. 7-98, August 1998
Service option available
any time after August 2003
Fees set by
County Board
Program administered by
Director of Public Works

Summary

In Frederick County outside Winchester, Stephens City and Middletown, Section 142-28(A) lets the County provide curbside refuse and recyclables collection based on population density, limited to single-family dwellings inside the Urban Service Area with frontage on a public road. The option has been available since Resolution No. 7-98 took effect after August 2003.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Frederick County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

§ 142-28. Curbside refuse collection by County. A. Service area. Pursuant to the provisions of Resolution No. 7-98, anytime after August 2003, the County shall have the option of providing curbside refuse and recyclables collection based on population densities. Collection will be limited to residential single-family or one-family dwellings located within the Urban Service Area and having frontage on public roads as defined by this article and the County's Zoning Ordinance. ... A mobile home or manufactured home which does not exist in the MH (Mobile Home Community) Zone shall be considered a single-family dwelling for the purposes of this article, as defined by the County's Zoning Ordinance.

Full Breakdown

Curbside collection is not universal countywide; Section 142-28(A) confines it to residential single-family or one-family dwellings that sit within the Urban Service Area and have frontage on a public road, as those terms are defined in the article and the County's Zoning Ordinance. A mobile home or manufactured home is treated as a single-family dwelling for these purposes unless it sits within the MH Mobile Home Community zoning district, in which case a different classification applies. The County adopted this framework under Resolution No. 2-930.

Under Section 142-28(B), the County can run the service itself or contract it out to a private firm or another locality, and Section 142-28(C) puts fee-setting in the hands of the County Board for the single-family residences that receive curbside pickup. The Director of Public Works or a designee is responsible under Section 142-28(D) for publicizing the program, setting collection schedules and methods, and issuing any further related regulations as needed, which is why the specific collection day for a given address is set administratively rather than fixed in the ordinance itself.

Violations & Fines

A resident who fails to comply with the curbside collection article, including the container and set-out rules in Section 142-28(E) through (H), is subject under Section 142-10 to a maximum fine of $2,500, up to 12 months in jail, or both, in addition to possible loss of trash and recyclables disposal privileges in the County.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Frederick County provide curbside trash pickup everywhere?
No. Under Section 142-28(A), curbside refuse and recyclables collection is limited to single-family dwellings within the County's Urban Service Area that have frontage on a public road; it is not available countywide.
Who sets the fee for curbside collection?
The County Board sets the fee for refuse and recyclables collection charged to single-family residential dwellings that receive curbside service, under Section 142-28(C) of the Frederick County Code.
Can the County contract out trash collection instead of doing it directly?
Yes. Section 142-28(B) lets the County either provide curbside collection itself or contract with a private firm or another locality to do it, under authority granted by Code of Virginia Section 15.2-930.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Frederick County

All Frederick County rules

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