Lodi, CA Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)
Key Facts
- Service model
- Exclusive city-contracted hauler only
- Self-haul option
- Requires a city permit
- Nonpayment
- City removes refuse, bills owner
- Utility tie-in
- Unpaid refuse bill can cut water/power
- Rates
- Set by city council resolution
Summary
Every residence and business within Lodi city limits must subscribe to the city's exclusive refuse contractor and pay the set fees; using any other hauler is prohibited while that contract is in force. The city can remove uncollected refuse itself and bill the owner. A limited self-haul permit is available for owners who want to transport their own waste to a disposal site.
Every person owning or occupying residential or commercial premises within the city limits shall utilize the refuse collection and transportation services of the contractor for which the city has contracted, and shall pay the fees for those services as set by the city. ... The city has the exclusive right and duty to collect and transport refuse within the city limits, under such terms and conditions as it deems necessary for the public health, safety and well-being; and it may contract with a contractor for the provision of those services. ... Except as provided in this chapter, at any time when there is a contract in force between the city and any contractor, it shall be unlawful for any person other than the contractor to collect or transport refuse within the city limits.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 68).
Full Breakdown
030 gives the city 'the exclusive right and duty to collect and transport refuse within the city limits,' which the city carries out through a contracted hauler. 020(A) requires every owner or occupant of residential or commercial property to use that contractor's collection and transportation service and pay the fees the city sets; anyone who refuses to arrange or pay for service can have their refuse removed by the city at their own expense. 060 makes it unlawful for anyone other than the contractor to collect or transport refuse within city limits, though residents can still personally haul occasional loads of their own refuse to a legal disposal site.
020(B); the permit requires vehicles that won't blow, leak or spill refuse and requires the permittee to pick up anything that falls out in transit, but it does not allow hauling for anyone else's waste. 040). 100). 110).
Violations & Fines
Collecting or hauling refuse in Lodi without being the city's contracted hauler, or without a self-haul permit, violates § 13.16.060 and § 13.16.030's exclusive franchise, exposing the offender to the code's general penalty under § 1.08.010: a misdemeanor or infraction with fines up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail for a misdemeanor. Property owners who refuse to pay for service can also have the city remove their refuse and bill them, and nonpayment can lead to combined water, electric and refuse service disconnection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I haul my own trash instead of using Lodi's contractor?
What if I don't pay for trash service in Lodi?
Can I hire a private hauler instead of Lodi's contractor?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lodi
California rules heatmap·Compare Lodi to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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Collection Schedule in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Joaquin County handle collection schedule.