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Osceola County, FL Trash & Recycling: Dumpster Rules (2026)

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

Key Facts

Governing section
Osceola County Code § 19-6
Applies to
unincorporated commercial property only
Container requirement
dumpster or compactor mandatory
Removal
licensed franchise hauler or self-haul
Bagging rule
waterproof, securely closed bags
Base fine
$100 per occurrence (§19-9(h))
Container-removal fine
$250 + $10/day after 72 hrs

Summary

Unincorporated Osceola County requires every commercial property to use a dumpster or compactor sized to hold all the waste the business generates, unless the county approves another arrangement. Owners must contract with a licensed commercial franchise hauler, keep containers from overflowing, and bag garbage before it goes in the bin. Violators face a $100 fine per occurrence under Code § 19-9.

City-specific rules exist: Kissimmee has its own dumpster rules rules that differ from Osceola County's county-level regulations. If you live in Kissimmee, check the city-specific page instead.

(a) Unless otherwise approved by the county, all commercial property shall use dumpsters or compactors. The owners or occupants of commercial property shall contract with a commercial franchise holder for the removal of commercial solid waste and recyclable material, unless such commercial solid waste and recyclable material is transported by the owner or occupant to a permitted disposal facility utilizing the owner's or occupant's own vehicle, equipment and employees. ... (c) The number and size of containers necessary for each commercial establishment shall be as required to control all waste generated on the premises. Spillage and overflow around containers shall immediately be cleaned up. ... (i) Garbage placed in dumpsters or compactors shall be enclosed in waterproof bags which are safely and securely closed.

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 71 | Land Development Code: Supplement 10).

Full Breakdown

Osceola County Code § 19-6, part of Chapter 19's commercial solid waste article, sets the baseline for every business, restaurant, plaza and industrial site in the unincorporated county. Subsection (a) requires commercial property to use dumpsters or compactors unless the county specifically approves another arrangement, and ties removal to a contract with one of the county's licensed commercial franchise haulers, unless the owner instead hauls the waste itself, using its own vehicle, equipment and employees, straight to a permitted disposal facility. Subsection (c) sets the sizing rule: the number and size of containers at each establishment must be enough to control everything the business generates, and any spillage or overflow around the containers has to be cleaned up immediately, not left for the next collection day.

Loading and unloading areas need their own solid waste receptacles under subsection (d), and any place open to the public must provide adequate receptacles under subsection (e). Garbage going into the dumpster or compactor itself must be bagged in waterproof, securely closed bags under subsection (i); an approved vermin-proof room or closed food-waste refrigerator, cleared by the county health officer, is the only alternative to bagging. Construction and demolition contractors get their own on-site control-measure duty under subsection (g), including interim storage containers, with a 30-day clock to clear C&D after work finishes.

None of this applies inside Kissimmee or St. Cloud, which run their own municipal collection systems; it governs the unincorporated commercial corridors, including the fast-growing Four Corners and Poinciana commercial nodes.

Violations & Fines

Failing to meet the commercial-property duties in § 19-6, from container sizing to bagged garbage, draws a $100 administrative fine per occurrence under the table in § 19-9(h). Separately, § 19-9(d) fines $250 per container plus $10 per calendar day for every day a commercial container isn't removed within 72 hours of a violation notice, enforced through the county's code enforcement board.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every business in unincorporated Osceola County need a dumpster?
Yes. Section 19-6(a) requires commercial property to use a dumpster or compactor unless the county approves another arrangement, and the owner or occupant must contract with a licensed commercial franchise hauler unless they haul the waste themselves to a permitted disposal facility.
What size dumpster does my Osceola County business need?
There's no single number for every business. Section 19-6(c) requires the number and size of containers to be whatever is needed to control all the waste the establishment actually generates, with spillage and overflow cleaned up immediately.
Can I put loose garbage bags straight in the dumpster?
Yes, as long as the bags are waterproof and securely closed, per § 19-6(i). The only alternative is a vermin-proof storage room or closed food-waste refrigerator approved by the county health officer.
What's the penalty for an overflowing or unremoved commercial dumpster?
General noncompliance with § 19-6 carries a $100 fine per occurrence under § 19-9(h). If a commercial container isn't removed within 72 hours of a violation notice, the fine jumps to $250 per container plus $10 for each additional day it stays.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Osceola County

All Osceola County rules

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