Shoreline, WA Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- SMC § 13.14.035, Mandatory collection
- Applies to
- Single-family, mobile home, up to fourplex
- Billing
- Charged even if service is unused
- Suspension
- One-week increments, vacations allowed
- Standby fee
- Applies only past two weeks suspended
Summary
Every residential property in the City of Shoreline is billed for at least the minimum level of solid waste collection service, whether the owner uses it or not. Shoreline Municipal Code § 13.14.035 makes collection mandatory and ties the charge to the fee schedule adopted under Chapter 3.01 SMC, with only a temporary vacation suspension as an exception.
Every person in possession, charge, or control of residential property shall be charged for a least the minimum level of solid waste collection service by the authorized collection company at the rates set forth in the fee schedule whether such person uses such service or not unless an exception applies as provided for in this chapter. Exceptions are as follows: A. A residential property customer may temporarily suspend solid waste collection service due to vacations or other reasons. Suspensions may be in one-week increments for an indefinite period of time. During the time of suspension, the customer may be charged a standby fee as set forth in the fee schedule but only if the suspension period is greater than two weeks.
Full Breakdown
Shoreline Municipal Code § 13.14.035 requires every person in possession, charge or control of residential property, defined at § 13.14.010 to include single-family homes, mobile homes and multifamily buildings of up to four units, to carry at least the minimum level of solid waste collection service from the city's authorized collection company. The charge applies at the rates set in the fee schedule adopted by council resolution under Chapter 3.01 SMC, and it applies whether or not the resident actually uses the service, so a property cannot simply opt out of paying.
The only built-in exception is a temporary suspension for vacations or similar reasons, which the customer may take in one-week increments for an indefinite total length; if the suspension runs longer than two weeks, the collection company may charge a standby fee, also set by the fee schedule, to hold the account open. This mandatory-service structure is distinct from § 13.14.040, which requires nonresidential properties to keep receptacles sized to hold all garbage generated on site rather than subscribing to a set collection level. The city manager oversees administration of the garbage code generally under § 13.14.030, and unlike many other sections of Chapter 13.14, § 13.14.035 itself is not listed among the civil infraction tiers in § 13.14.240, so billing and account enforcement, rather than a fine, is the primary mechanism for mandatory service compliance.
Violations & Fines
Section 13.14.035 is not one of the sections carrying a civil infraction penalty under § 13.14.240; noncompliance with mandatory residential collection is addressed through continued billing at the fee-schedule rate rather than a fine. A customer who lets an unpaid or unused account lapse still owes for the minimum service level, and any suspension longer than two weeks triggers a standby fee instead of a penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Shoreline homeowners have to pay for garbage collection even if they do not use it?
Can I pause my Shoreline garbage service while traveling?
What counts as residential property for Shoreline's mandatory collection rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Shoreline
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Collection Schedule in Nearby Cities
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