Sacramento County, CA Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 6.20.120, Sacramento County Code
- Requirement
- Subscribe to DWMR or franchised hauler
- Removal frequency
- At least once every 7 days
- Exemptions
- Owner-occupied ADUs; 5+ acre farms
Summary
Every improved parcel in unincorporated Sacramento County must subscribe to solid waste, recycling, and organic material collection through the county's franchised hauler, with narrow exemptions for accessory units and large farms.
Except as otherwise expressly provided by this chapter, the owner, tenant, or occupant of every improved parcel (parcel with one or more business and/or residential buildings approved for occupancy) located within the unincorporated area of the County shall subscribe to solid waste, recyclable material, and organic material collection service provided by DWMR or a County franchisee. Each business and/or residential building with a separate address and each separate business unit and each separate residential unit with a common address located on such parcel shall subscribe, or participate in the subscription, to such service.
B. Exceptions to this mandatory service requirement are listed in Sections 6.20.110, 6.20.145, 6.20.445, and 6.20.460. (SCC 517 § 2, 1982; SCC 694 § 1, 1987; SCC 1044 § 2, 1996; SCC 1522 § 3, 2013; SCC 1654 § 11, 2019; SCC 1672 § 2, 2021; SCC 1720 § 1, 2023; SCC 1761, 8/5/2025; SCC 1772, 2/10/2026)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4941150; v18 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
Under § 6.20.120, the owner, tenant, or occupant of every improved parcel in the unincorporated county must subscribe to solid waste, recyclable material, and organic material collection provided by the County's Department of Waste Management and Recycling (DWMR) or its franchisee, including each separately addressed unit on a shared parcel. Separately, § 6.20.115 requires accumulated solid and food waste be removed from the property at least once every seven days. Narrow exemptions exist under § 6.20.145 for owner-occupied ADUs and qualifying five-acre-plus farms or ranches.
Violations & Fines
Failing to subscribe to the required collection service, or letting solid, recyclable, or organic waste accumulate beyond the seven-day removal window under § 6.20.115, is unlawful, with each day treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I opt out of county trash service and haul my own waste?
How often must waste be picked up?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sacramento County
California rules heatmap·Compare Sacramento County to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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