Pinellas County, FL Trash & Recycling: Dumpster Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Screening required
- 6-ft solid fence or wall
- Single-family districts
- Dumpsters prohibited (R-1–R-5)
- Gate hardware
- Drop pins, full-width gates
- Pre-1990 dumpsters
- Exempt if unrelocated
Summary
In unincorporated Pinellas County, commercial dumpsters must meet zoning setbacks, be screened by a 6-foot solid fence, and are banned outright on single-family lots zoned R-1 through R-5.
(a)General standards. Dumpsters are subject to the standards in this section.(1)Dumpsters shall meet the minimum setbacks of the zoning district.(2)Dumpsters shall be screened from street view with a solid fence or wall a minimum of six feet in height.(3)Dumpsters shall be serviceable in that location by a waste hauler vehicle.(4)The property owner shall be responsible for the repair and maintenance to the dumpster and associated enclosure(s). The areas surrounding the dumpster shall be free of garbage, trash, weeds and debris.(5)Dumpster enclosures shall have gates across the full width of the opening when facing a street or right-of-way. The gates must have drop pins to secure them in the open and closed position.(6)Dumpsters shall be subject to the performance standards in chapter 138, article IX division 14, performance standards.(7)Dumpsters shall not cause a sight distance obstruction, per section 138-3508, for vehicles maneuvering on the adjacent or any nearby street system.(8)Areas surrounding dumpsters shall be landscaped pursuant to division 3 of this article.(9)Dumpsters are prohibited within the public rights-of-way.(b)Prohibition for single-family districts. Dumpsters are prohibited on all parcels zoned R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and R-5 with single-family detached dwelling units.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 124).
Full Breakdown
Pinellas County Code § 138-3507 requires dumpsters to meet the minimum zoning-district setback, be screened from street view by a solid fence or wall at least six feet tall, include gates with drop pins across any opening that faces a street, and remain accessible to a waste hauler vehicle. Dumpsters are prohibited outright on parcels zoned R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and R-5 with single-family detached homes. Temporary construction dumpsters under a valid permit and dumpsters placed before 1990 are exempt.
Violations & Fines
Property owners are responsible for enclosure repair and keeping the surrounding area free of garbage, trash, weeds and debris; unscreened or unpermitted dumpsters are subject to code enforcement action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a single-family home in unincorporated Pinellas County have a dumpster?
How must a commercial dumpster be screened in Pinellas County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pinellas County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Pinellas County to another location·View the Florida trash & recycling overview
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