San Bernardino, CA Trash & Recycling: Dumpster Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- SBMC § 8.24.110
- Who may place containers
- Franchised hauler only
- Removal notice period
- 24 hours
- Hearing request window
- 15 days after seizure
- Repeat-offender exception
- No notice after 2 prior removals in 12 months
Summary
Only the city's franchised hauler may place containers, including roll-off and commercial dumpsters, anywhere in San Bernardino, on public right-of-way, city property or private property. A dumpster placed by an unfranchised company is illegal and subject to a 24-hour removal notice, seizure and a paid reclaim hearing.
(A) Containers - franchise required. The franchised hauler is the exclusive provider of containers for the collection of C&D, garbage, recyclable materials, organic waste and large items. This includes any and all containers placed in the public right-of-way, on city property, private property or elsewhere in the service area, for collection of C&D, garbage, recyclable materials, organic waste and large items and subsequent delivery to a permitted solid waste facility. Collection utilizing containers may be on a temporary or permanent basis, in accordance with the terms of the franchise agreement between the city and the franchised hauler. Any containers left on the public right-of-way, public property or private property by a company or person without a contract or franchise agreement with the city to provide such services shall be deemed illegal and subject to removal pursuant to these provisions.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-2: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. MC-1666, passed 8-5-2026).
Full Breakdown
110(A) makes the city's franchised solid waste hauler the exclusive provider of containers, defined to include bins for C&D debris, garbage, recyclables, organic waste and large items, whether the container sits in the public right-of-way, on city property or on private property, and whether the placement is temporary or permanent. A dumpster or roll-off dropped by a hauler without a contract or franchise agreement with the city is deemed illegal and subject to removal. 110(B), once the City Manager determines a container is illegal, the marked owner gets a 24-hour posted and mailed notice to remove it; if the container is unmarked and the owner unknown, a 24-hour posting on the container itself is sufficient notice.
110(C) if the same owner has already received two removal notices for illegal containers in the prior 12 months. 110(E) gives the owner 15 days to request a hearing before the City Manager, scheduled within 30 days of removal, or the container becomes city property. 110(D). A City Manager decision after a hearing can be appealed to the hearing officer within 10 days, and from there to San Bernardino County Superior Court under Cal. 6.
Violations & Fines
Placing or leaving an unfranchised container anywhere in the city triggers a 24-hour removal notice under § 8.24.110(B); ignoring it lets the city or hauler seize the dumpster. Reclaiming it requires paying the city's full removal, storage and disposal costs, and an unresolved seizure converts the container to city property after 15 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a private company drop off a roll-off dumpster in San Bernardino?
How much notice does the city give before removing an illegal dumpster?
How do I get my seized dumpster back from the city?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Bernardino
California rules heatmap·Compare San Bernardino 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.