Ontario, CA Trash & Recycling: Dumpster Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Section
- OMC §§ 6-3.311, 6-3.313, 6-3.314
- Containers
- City-approved bins, roll-offs, or carts
- Placement
- City-approved, accessible location required
- New/expanding projects
- Dedicated bin enclosure required
- Disputes
- Administrator's decision is final
Summary
Commercial properties in Ontario must use City-approved bins, roll-offs or carts for non-organic waste, recycling, green waste and organics, sized and scheduled by the Administrator under Section 6-3.311. Section 6-3.313 requires every container to sit in a location the City approves and the Integrated Waste Collector can easily reach, with any placement dispute decided in writing by the Administrator, whose decision is final.
All commercial establishments shall utilize one (1) of the various sizes of bins, roll-offs or other containers available through the City for the collection of non-organic waste, recyclables, green waste and other organics. The commercial establishment may utilize cart service with the Administrator's consent... All commercial collection carts, bins, roll-offs or other containers shall be placed in an area approved by the City, which shall be easily accessible to the Integrated Waste Collector.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-32: Current through Ordinance 3338, passed 7-21-2026).
Full Breakdown
311 requires that all commercial establishments shall utilize one of the various sizes of bins, roll-offs or other containers available through the City for the collection of non-organic waste, recyclables, green waste and other organics, though a business can switch to cart service with the Administrator's consent. 201, meaning a business generating more waste can be required to add container capacity or pickups. 313(a): all commercial collection carts, bins, roll-offs or other containers shall be placed in an area approved by the City, which shall be easily accessible to the Integrated Waste Collector.
314: any project that submitted a site plan on or after September 1, 1993, adds 30 percent or more floor area, or adds 1,000 square feet or more must build a dedicated, accessible enclosure for its bins on the approved site plan, meeting the Integrated Waste Department's specifications, Planning Department design guidelines, and the California Green Building Standards Code enclosure sections. 313(b) puts the final call with the Administrator after a written notice from the business, and that decision has no further appeal built into the chapter.
Violations & Fines
Placing a commercial bin, roll-off or container somewhere the City has not approved, or blocking the Integrated Waste Collector's access, is enforced the same way as other Chapter 3 violations: a notice of violation from Code Enforcement or Integrated Waste staff, followed by the citywide penalty schedule at Section 1-2.01, escalating infraction fines or a misdemeanor charge for repeat noncompliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a business in Ontario choose its own dumpster size or location?
Does a new commercial building need a trash enclosure in Ontario?
Who decides where a commercial dumpster gets placed if there's a dispute?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ontario
California rules heatmap·Compare Ontario to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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Dumpster Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle dumpster rules.