Monroe County, FL Trash & Recycling: Dumpster Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Nonresidential minimum
- 82 to 275 sq ft by floor area tier
- Multi-family minimum
- 144 to 264 sq ft by unit count tier
- Extra dumpster
- Adds 60 sq ft (6 ft by 10 ft) each
- Screening
- 3 sides, solid/semi-opaque enclosure, max 6 ft
- Setback
- As close as 5 ft to rear/side property line
Summary
In the unincorporated Florida Keys (Monroe County), Land Development Code § 114-14 requires every nonresidential, mixed-use and multi-family project to set aside a sized recycling and solid waste collection area, from 82 square feet for buildings under 5,000 square feet up to 275 square feet for buildings over 100,000 square feet. A second dumpster adds another 60-square-foot pad, and the area must be screened on three sides.
Any nonresidential, mixed use or multi-family residential development shall make adequate provision for a recycling collection area in accordance with the following standards: (a)Nonresidential and mixed use buildings. The following are minimum space configurations per solid waste/recycling collection area: Floor Area (square feet) Minimum Collection Area (square feet) 0 to 5,000 82 5,001 to 15,000 125 15,001 to 50,000 175 50,001 to 100,000 225 100,001 or greater 275 ... (c)Additional solid waste containers. Generally, the minimum collection areas shown above provide enough area for a typical solid waste container (i.e. dumpster) and recycling containers. If the collection area requires more than one solid waste container, then an additional area of six feet by ten feet (60 square feet) is required per each additional solid waste container.
Full Breakdown
Section 114-14 applies to any nonresidential, mixed-use or multi-family residential development in the unincorporated Keys, sizing the collection area to the size of the building or the number of units. Nonresidential and mixed-use buildings scale from 82 square feet for up to 5,000 square feet of floor area, through 125, 175 and 225 square feet at the next three tiers, up to 275 square feet for buildings over 100,000 square feet. Multi-family projects run on a separate table keyed to dwelling units, from 144 square feet for 3 to 10 units up to 264 square feet for 31 to 35 units; developments of 36 to 50 units need at least two 240-square-foot collection areas, and anything over 50 units needs one 240-square-foot area for every 25 units.
If a site needs more than one dumpster to handle its volume, each additional container adds a further 60 square feet, six feet by ten feet, beyond the base collection area, and the Planning Director can approve a combination of smaller collection areas that together meet the total requirement. Every collection area must be screened on at least three sides with a solid or semi-opaque enclosure no taller than six feet, with 18 inches of clearance on each side of the container so enclosure gates can still swing and containers can still be moved and lifted.
The area cannot sit more than roughly 200 feet from the users it serves, and it has to stay accessible to the collection vehicles that service it, notwithstanding the setback rules of Chapter 131 and the fence rules of Section 114-13, since Section 114-14(d) lets a collection area sit as close as five feet to a rear or side property line.
Violations & Fines
A nonresidential, mixed-use or multi-family project that skips the required recycling and solid waste collection area, undersizes it for its floor area or unit count, or fails to screen it on three sides with a compliant enclosure is out of compliance with Section 114-14 and can be held up in building permit review or referred to Code Compliance if built without approval. The Planning Director must approve any combination of smaller collection areas used to meet the total requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my Keys business need a dedicated dumpster area?
How much space do I need for a second dumpster?
How close to my property line can the dumpster area sit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Monroe County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Monroe County to another location·View the Florida trash & recycling overview
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