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Grand Prairie, TX Trash & Recycling: Dumpster Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
Grand Prairie Code of Ordinances § 26-116
Cart curb time
Commercial carts pulled back by 7:00 p.m.
Compactor enclosure
6-foot self-latching fence on residential-zoned lots
20-yard roll-off
$208.89 per pickup, $188.82 monthly lease
Enforcement
Misdemeanor fine under § 1-8, per day

Summary

Grand Prairie requires every commercial, institutional and industrial property to keep garbage and trash in approved containers placed where the city's collector can reach them, under Code of Ordinances Sec. 26-116. Gated dumpster enclosures need a device holding the gate open on pickup day, and any compactor on residential-zoned property must sit inside a self-latching six-foot fence.

(a)Approved containers. It shall be the duty of the owner or person otherwise in control of the commercial, institutional or industrial premises within the city to cause all garbage and trash accumulated on said premises to be placed in approved containers. Commercial bag or commercial cart service customers shall place their bags or carts at a location on the premises which is readily accessible to the collector and approved by the city or its agent. Commercial cart service customers shall remove the cart from the designated collection location no later than 7:00 p.m.(b)Containers in enclosures. If containers are located within a gated enclosure, the customer shall ensure a device is installed to hold the gate open during collection. Screening fences shall be installed and maintained in accordance with the Unified Development Code.(e)Enclosure requirements. Mechanical garbage and trash packers or compactors which are located on any property used for residential purposes (regardless of zoning) shall be completely enclosed in a fence at least six (6) feet in height, unless completely enclosed in a building. Such fence shall have a self-closing, self-latching gate.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 116).

Full Breakdown

Section 26-116 of the Grand Prairie Code of Ordinances governs where commercial, institutional and industrial customers place their garbage containers and how those containers must be maintained. on service day, while dumpsters and other commercial-type containers sit wherever the customer and the hauler agree. If a dumpster sits inside a gated enclosure, the customer has to install a device that props the gate open during pickup, and any screening fence around the enclosure has to meet the city's Unified Development Code. Customers are financially on the hook for damage to a container on their property unless the hauler caused it, and any container mounted on casters has to be rolled to the pickup spot by the customer on collection day.

84 obstruction charge. A packer or compactor placed on residentially used property, regardless of the zoning on paper, must be fully enclosed in a fence at least six feet tall with a self-closing, self-latching gate, or fully enclosed in a building, and it needs a key-activated on/off switch that stays in the off position except while the person holding the key is actively running it. Violations fall under Section 26-123.

Violations & Fines

Violating Section 26-116 is a misdemeanor under Section 26-123, punishable by a fine set in Section 1-8 of the Code of Ordinances for each act and each day the violation continues. Solid waste crews or code enforcement can cite an owner for an unenclosed compactor, a blocked gate mechanism, or a container left where the hauler cannot access it, and the city may also pursue civil remedies alongside the criminal fine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is responsible for a dumpster's condition in Grand Prairie?
Under Section 26-116, the customer on whose premises the container sits is liable for any damage to it, except damage the collection crew itself causes. That responsibility extends to keeping the gate-holding device working on any enclosure and moving a caster-mounted container into place for pickup, since the ordinance places maintenance duties on the property owner or controller, not the hauler.
Does a compactor need its own fence in Grand Prairie?
Yes, if it sits on property used for residential purposes regardless of the zoning classification. Section 26-116(e) requires a fence at least six feet high with a self-closing, self-latching gate, or full enclosure inside a building, plus a key-activated switch under Section 26-116(f) that must stay off except when the keyholder is running it.
What does a 30-cubic-yard roll-off cost to lease in Grand Prairie?
The city's fee schedule lists $208.89 per pickup and a $237.43 monthly lease charge for a 30-cubic-yard open-top roll-off box, with variable pricing for a 30-cubic-yard compactor roll-off. An obstruction charge of $96.84 applies if the roll-off truck cannot reach the container on service day.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Grand Prairie

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