Norfolk, VA Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)
Key Facts
- Small buildings (4 units or fewer)
- 1 automated cart per unit minimum
- Larger buildings (5+ units)
- 1 cart per 2 units minimum
- Noncollectible-site notice
- 30 days' advance notice, § 41-18(b)(2)
- Access failure
- Private collection required, § 41-18(d)
- First violation fine
- $25 prepayment penalty
Summary
Norfolk sets residential garbage service by container ratio, not just a calendar. City Code Sec. 41-18 requires at least one automated cart per unit in buildings of four units or fewer, and one cart for every two units in larger buildings, with private collection stepping in wherever city equipment can't reach or keep up.
(a)Residences with four or fewer units. The collection of household waste from residences with four (4) or fewer units shall be conducted using a minimum of one automated collection container per unit.(b)Multiple residences with more than four (4) units. The collection of solid waste from multiple residences with more than four (4) units by city forces shall be handled as follows:(1)A minimum of one automated collection container is required for every two (2) units. An odd number of units requires an additional container. Additional containers may be leased only after each unit is assigned one automated container.(2)If the director of public works or his designee finds that solid waste quantities or location, building design or other factors, are not compatible for solid waste collection by city forces and equipment, the solid waste shall be removed by private collectors....(c)When the waste exceeds that which can be stored in the containers specified for that location under subsection (a) or (b), collection shall be provided by private collection.(d)Where accessibility for city collection is not possible, private collection service shall be utilized.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 166).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 41-18(a) sets the baseline: residences with four or fewer units get household waste collection using a minimum of one automated collection container per unit. Subsection (b) covers larger buildings: multiple residences with more than four units must have at least one automated container for every two units, with an odd number of units requiring an extra container, and additional containers can only be leased after every unit already has its one assigned cart. If the director of public works or a designee determines that waste quantities, site access, building design or other factors make a location incompatible with city collection equipment, subsection (b)(2) requires the solid waste to be handled by private collectors instead, and the director must give the property at least thirty days' notice before switching it to noncollectible status.
Subsection (c) applies the same private-collection fallback whenever a property's waste volume exceeds what its assigned containers can hold, and subsection (d) requires private collection wherever a public street, lane or alley doesn't give city trucks access. Together these provisions determine whether a Norfolk property is on the city's collection roster at all, and how many carts it is entitled to before the property has to pay a private hauler.
Violations & Fines
A property that keeps fewer containers than Sec. 41-18 requires, or that keeps generating waste beyond what its assigned containers can hold without arranging private pickup, is in violation of the section. Under the chapter's general penalty scheme, a violation of Sec. 41-18 is a class 3 misdemeanor under Sec. 41-1, and a waste management inspector may instead issue the Sec. 41-6 prepayment penalty notice: $25 first violation, $50 second within twelve months, $100 for a third or later.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many trash carts is my Norfolk apartment building entitled to?
Can Norfolk switch my property to private trash collection?
What if my Norfolk street or alley is too narrow for the garbage truck?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Norfolk
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