Littleton, CO Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 7-2-3
- Self-haul requirement
- State-approved landfill only
- Enforcement path
- Nuisance notice under Title 7, Chapter 1
- First violation fine
- Not less than $100
Summary
When the City is not providing trash collection under Section 7-2-1, Littleton City Code Section 7-2-3(B) requires the responsible party of every property producing garbage, refuse or rubbish to arrange collection and removal service sufficient to keep the premises clean, or to self-haul waste to a State-approved landfill.
B. In the absence of City-provided collection services pursuant to Section 7-2-1 herein, the responsible party of any premises wherein garbage, refuse, or rubbish is produced or accumulated shall provide for collection service and removal of said garbage, refuse, and rubbish to the degree of service necessary to maintain the premises in a clean and orderly condition. A responsible party may dispose of their own garbage, refuse, and rubbish, provided that it is properly disposed of at a landfill or other disposal site approved by the State, and in conformity with all applicable City and County regulations.
Full Breakdown
Section 7-2-3 of the Littleton City Code sets the baseline rule for how garbage, refuse and rubbish get removed from every property in the City. Subsection (A) lets the City Council contract for citywide trash collection and disposal service for residential and commercial users, and recycling collection and disposal service for residential users, when Council decides it is more advantageous to taxpayers or when competitive bidding under Title 1, Chapter 15 fails to produce a workable arrangement. Subsection (B) is the fallback that applies whenever the City is not providing that collection service: the responsible party of any premises where garbage, refuse or rubbish is produced or accumulates, meaning the occupant, tenant, agent or registered owner, must arrange collection service and removal to whatever degree is necessary to keep the premises clean and orderly.
A responsible party is allowed to haul their own waste rather than hire a hauler, but only if it is disposed of at a landfill or other disposal site the State has approved, and only in conformity with applicable City and County regulations. Because Littleton straddles Arapahoe, Jefferson and Douglas Counties, which landfill and county rule applies can differ depending on where in the City the property sits, so a self-hauling resident should confirm the approved site and any county permit requirement for their address.
Violations & Fines
Failing to maintain adequate collection service, so that garbage, refuse or rubbish accumulates on a property, is enforced as a public nuisance under Chapter 1 of Title 7. The City can serve a notice of violation, order abatement, and assess civil penalties starting at not less than $100 for a first notice and rising to $500 for a third notice within twelve months under Section 7-1-8(D).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Littleton require me to have trash service?
Can I haul my own trash instead of hiring a collector?
What happens if trash piles up because I have no collection service?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Littleton
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Collection Schedule in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Arapahoe County handle collection schedule.