San Francisco, CA Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)
Key Facts
- Duty holder
- Owner of dwelling or commercial property
- Deadline to initiate service
- 15 days after occupancy
- Initial fine cap (small generators)
- $100
- Enforcing agency
- Director of Public Health / DPW
Summary
San Francisco property owners must subscribe to and pay for adequate refuse collection service; failure to do so is enforceable with fines.
The owner of any dwelling or commercial property shall subscribe to and pay for adequate refuse collection service rendered to such dwelling or commercial property by a collector and shall provide at a location accessible to the collector for an adequate container or containers for deposit of refuse of such capacity as the Director of Public Works may prescribe. The necessity for and type of refuse collection service required and the rates charged therefor shall be governed by the Initiative Ordinance, Chapter 19 of the Environment Code, and any applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Director of Public Health. Nothing in this Section is intended to prevent an arrangement or the continuance of an existing arrangement, under which payments for refuse collection service are made by a tenant or tenants, or any agent, in behalf of the Owner. However, any such arrangement will not affect the Owner's obligation to the City. (Added by Ord. 47-83, App. 2/4/83; amended by Ord. 100-09, File No. 081404, App. 6/23/2009)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-96: Codes: last updated to include changes made by legislation through Ordinance 133-26, File No. 260686, approved July 23, 2026, effective August 23, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Health Code Section 291.1 requires every owner of a dwelling or commercial property to subscribe to and pay for adequate refuse collection service from a licensed collector, and to provide an accessible container of the capacity the Director of Public Works prescribes. Under Section 291.2, an owner who fails to start service within 15 days of occupancy, or fails to maintain adequate service, gets a Director's order to arrange service; if the owner does not comply or request a hearing within 15 days, the collector must initiate or increase service consistent with that order regardless of the owner's agreement.
Violations & Fines
Administrative fines under Admin. Code Chapter 100, starting at up to $100 for a dwelling or commercial property generating under one cubic yard of refuse per week; the Director may also assess enforcement costs including attorney's fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a San Francisco landlord skip trash service and let tenants handle it?
What happens if an SF property owner ignores a service order?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Francisco
California rules heatmap·Compare San Francisco to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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