Sandy, UT Trash & Recycling: Dumpster Rules (2026)

Section 21-23-9, Trash Enclosure Areas, sets specific design and placement standards for garbage and recycling dumpsters at commercial and industrial developments. The enclosure itself must be solid masonry at least six feet high, built to match adjacent buildings, with opaque gates that are closed when not in use; gate frames must be solid metal and the design must follow the Sandy City Architectural Design Standards reviewed by the Community Development Department during site plan approval. The enclosure and gates must stand as tall as the dumpster inside them so the unit cannot be seen from public or private roads or from neighboring lots.

Placement is restricted too: no dumpster may sit in the required front building setback, and none may block a required driveway, parking aisle, parking space, or sidewalk. Sandy sets a five-foot minimum setback from any side or rear commercial property line and a ten-foot minimum where the dumpster sits next to a residential district, giving neighboring homes extra buffer. The section also bars using a public road directly for refuse collection, meaning haulers must access enclosures from private drive aisles or approved collection points rather than blocking traffic lanes. These standards apply at the time a commercial or industrial site plan is submitted and are checked against the approved plan going forward.