San Diego County, CA Trash & Recycling: Dumpster Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing rule
- Keep dumpsters clean, leak-proof, closed
- Applies to
- Industrial, commercial, municipal facilities
- Jurisdiction
- Unincorporated San Diego County only
- Criminal penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine or 6 months jail
- Civil penalty
- Up to $2,500 per violation per day
Summary
Businesses and industrial sites in unincorporated San Diego County must keep dumpsters, grease bins, and similar containers clean, leak-proof, and securely closed when not in use under the county's stormwater ordinance.
Trash storage and disposal areas shall be kept clean and free of debris. ... Dumpsters, grease bins, grease traps, and interceptors, and other containers shall be maintained in a clean and leak-proof condition and shall be kept securely closed when not in use.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-141: Administrative: Current through Ord. No. 11007 (N.S.), effective 7-10-26 | Regulatory: Current through Ord. No. 11008 (N.S.), effective 7-24-26).
Full Breakdown
San Diego County's Watershed Protection, Stormwater Management and Discharge Control ordinance sets minimum best management practices for every industrial, commercial, and municipal facility in the unincorporated area. Under Section 67.808, trash storage and disposal areas must be kept clean and free of debris, and dumpsters, grease bins, grease traps, and interceptors must be maintained in a clean, leak-proof condition and kept securely closed except when actively being used. The rule targets pollutants reaching storm drains rather than dumpster placement or size: it applies wherever a business keeps a dumpster on unincorporated county property, enforced by the Department of Public Works and other authorized officials.
Violations & Fines
A misdemeanor or infraction under County Code § 67.815 (up to $1,000 and six months in jail), plus civil penalties up to $2,500 per violation per day under § 67.819.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rule say where I can place my dumpster?
Does this apply inside the City of San Diego?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Diego County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Diego County to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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